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
Select mornings (Monday – Friday) feature 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.
The workshop series is as follows:
-
- Monday, May 25, 2026 @ NLNA – 700 N 3rd st.
- 10:30am — Rachelle Jonck —The Basics of Bel Canto
- 12:45pm — Derrick Goff —The Italian Libretto
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026 @ The Latvian Society – 531 N 7th St
- 10:00am — Lora Reehling — Yoga & Body Connection #1
- Friday, May 29, 2026 @ The Latvian Society – 531 N 7th St
- 9:30am — Leo Mock — Intimacy Coordination & Advocacy
- Monday, June 1, 2026 @ The Latvian Society – 531 N 7th St
- 9:30am — Eli Lynn —The Basics of Stage Combat
- Tuesday, June 2, 2026 @ The Latvian Society – 531 N 7th St
- 9:30am — Rachelle Jonck — The Audition Checklist — Let’s Step Up Our Game!
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026 @ The Latvian Society – 531 N 7th St
- 9:30am — Philip Doucette — Making Smart Choices for High-Demand Voices
- 6:30pm — Lora Reehling —Yoga & Body Connection #2
- Friday, June 5, 2026 @ Pig Iron Theatre Company – 1417 N 2nd St
- 3:30pm — Jonah Godfrey — Building Physically Informed Characters
- Monday, May 25, 2026 @ NLNA – 700 N 3rd st.
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.