Liberty City Arts × Bel Canto Boot Camp 2026 is a two-week intensive vocal training residency running from May 25 through June 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA. The program brings world-renowned vocal coach Rachelle Jonck back to Philadelphia following the success of LCA's inaugural training program in 2024.
Designed primarily for professional and pre-professional opera singers, the program combines private coachings with Rachelle Jonck with a structured morning workshop series led by specialists across vocal performance, health, and stage craft. A core cohort of enrolled participants receives guaranteed coaching sessions, while select open slots make the program accessible to additional singers on a rolling basis.
All workshops are open to the public on a pay-what-you-can, donation-based model. The program reflects Liberty City Arts' core commitment to fair compensation for professional artists, accessible community programming, and high-quality artistic training rooted in Philadelphia's performing arts community.
Liberty City Arts × Bel Canto Boot Camp 2026 is a two-week intensive vocal training residency running from May 25 through June 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA. The program brings world-renowned vocal coach Rachelle Jonck back to Philadelphia following the success of LCA’s inaugural training program in 2024.
Designed primarily for professional and pre-professional opera singers, the program combines private coachings with Rachelle Jonck with a structured morning workshop series led by specialists across vocal performance, health, and stage craft. A core cohort of enrolled participants receives guaranteed coaching sessions, while select open slots make the program accessible to additional singers on a rolling basis.
All workshops are open to the public on a pay-what-you-can, donation-based model. The program reflects Liberty City Arts’ core commitment to fair compensation for professional artists, accessible community programming, and high-quality artistic training rooted in Philadelphia’s performing arts community.
Program Structure
Dates & Cohort Model
The program runs Monday, May 25 through Saturday, June 6, 2026, with workshops and coachings scheduled Monday through Friday. Workshops are generally not repeated across the two weeks; however, additional sessions may be scheduled depending on enrollment needs, workshop constraints, or presenter availability.
Singers in the cohort are guaranteed FREE fully sponsored participation in the program which will include:
- 4 private coachings (two per week) with Rachelle Jonck
- All workshops throughout the program
- 1 edited headshot in a mini-session with photographer Lauren Cook
- A panel audition for to-be-announced East Coast opera companies
À La Carte Participation
Beyond the core cohort, 25 additional coaching slots are available to singers who wish to participate without full program enrollment. These are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and open after the core cohort registration deadline for each week. Fees for à la carte coaching slots will be based on a pay-what-you-can model with suggested pricing.
Week 1 enrollment will be filled first, after which registration will open for Week 2. Cohort members will have their coachings registered before à la carte slots are made available to the public. If open coaching slots remain two days prior to the start of a given week, any registered participant may use those slots to register for a second coaching on a first-come, first-served basis.
All workshops are open to the public on a pay-what-you-can, donation-based model. Registration will be required for capacity management.
Sample Daily Schedule
*Subject to Change
9:30-11:30am – Workshop
12:00-6:00pm – Individual 45 min coachings
Morning Workshop Series
Each morning (Monday – Friday) features a 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM workshop session. All workshops are open to the public on a pay-what-you-can basis. Registration may be required for capacity management. Cohort participants are expected to attend at least six out of the eight workshop sessions in order to participate in panel auditions on Saturday, June 6th.
The workshop series is as follows:
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- Rachelle Jonck — Vocal Techniques Associated with Coachings
- Derrick Goff — Language and Libretto Study
- Leo Mock — Stage Intimacy Awareness & Self-Advocacy
- Eli Lynn — Stage Combat Basics
- Philip Doucette — Vocal Health / ENT Lecture: Making Smart Choices for High-Demand Voices
- Lora Reehling — Yoga
- Instructor TBD — Building Physically Informed Characters
Core Cohort Application
Deadline April 20, 2026
Singers applying to the core cohort submit a full application including:
- Up to four pieces of repertoire for coaching (title, composer, source, language)
- Goals and artistic statement — why you are applying and what you hope to address
- Two recent recordings (within the last 18 months preferred; flexibility available upon request, preferred format is a YouTube link) that include examples of coloratura and legato singing. Please include at least one selection in Italian.
- Headshot, resume/CV, website
Applications open March 12, 2026. The cohort application deadline is April 20, 2026. Selected cohort members will be notified via email May 1, 2026. À la carte coaching registration will open no later than two weeks prior to the program start, by May 11, 2026.
Questions?
Please email auditions@libertycityarts.org with any program or application questions.