Académie

Within the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the Académie accompanies and promotes talented multidisciplinary artists from all over the world, through work, research and experimentation residencies, supervised by experienced and internationally renowned artists.

Created in 1998 under the egis of Pierre Boulez, the Académie du Festival d’Aix is a pioneer on the international level. Focused on the diversity – of aesthetics, practices, backgrounds, cultures, ages and genres – and fundamentally attached to creation, it aims to be a place of reflection and synergy to accompany artistic research in all disciplines: singing, musical creation, orchestra conducting, stage direction, dramaturgy, chamber music, digital arts, etc.

Immersed in one of Europe’s most dynamic cultural places, it offers an exceptional environment for professional and artistic development. The contents and objectives of these activities are renewed every year, thus responding both to the artists’ needs and to the challenges facing the opera world. Just like the Festival, the Académie plays an important role in the revival of the opera genre and is at the forefront of music and performing arts.

The artists in residency contribute to making the festival environment a space for the exchange of innovative ideas about opera between artists and music professionals. It is particularly evident in the Opera Makers meetings, during the Festival’s Professional Days, when artists can make valuable contacts for the development of their projects and their careers.

The Académie is a founding member of the European Network of Opera Academies (enoa) whose vocation is to influence the opera of tomorrow towards more creation, diversity and inclusion.

Résidence d'expérimentation - Festival d'Aix-en-Provence 2023 © Vincent Beaume

"The team at Aix has played an important role in supporting my creative vision and investing in my professional development over the last few years!"
Fleur Barron — singer and curator

"Cultivating technique, style, and interpretation with world class masters, inside the nucleus of contemporary Opera was integral in giving me the push to begin my career in Europe."
Evan Hughes — singer

"These are spaces that have enabled me to meet artists and, above all, singers from all over the world. Artists I wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to meet."
Alphonse Cemin — conductor and pianist
Pianist vocal coach mentor of the 2024 Voice Residency

"In my approach to new projects, there is clearly a “before” and an “after” this workshop."
Josephine Stephenson — composer

"The academy was my first major musical experience in Europe and one of the most interesting music projects I have done. I was attracted to the festival by the top coaching faculty and repertoire but also found myself enjoying the various opera productions and surroundings."
Preston Atkins — bassoonist

"These ten days of work did not come without challenges, but I believe that at the end of our residency, we came out not only as better, more flexible musicians, but also as friends, spread all across the globe, joined by a fond memory of a summer in Aix-en-Provence."
Katarina Nikolčić — flutist

"I now realize that strength lies in numbers and in the sharing and crossing of our experiences. As I approach the big milestone that is my debut opera, I feel better equipped, and much better prepared on all fronts."
Layale Chaker — composer, violinist, musician

"My experience with the Académie has confirmed that there is truly space for radical storytelling, diversity and new perspectives in opera."
TD Moyo — theatre and opera director, and writer

"Learning from Katie Mitchell was a game changer in terms of the confidence it gave me as an artist, with the skills to not only develop my ideas but to be able to communicate them to others. The confidence it has given me has been very important, especially at this stage in my career."
Amanda Wilkins — playwright and librettist

"Your audiences are truly curious. That’s what’s so beautiful. It’s wonderful when you can help people discover new artists. Being able to work at two levels at the same time - through both tradition and innovation - is marvellous."
Anne Bouvier — actress, and chair of Adami’s Board of Directors

HISTORY

Its twenty-five years of history at the heart of the Festival d’Aix have made it one of the oldest festival academies, which also stands out for the great diversity of its artists. Since its creation, it has accompanied more than three thousand international artists from all disciplines through development, reflection, experimentation, and creation programmes.

Discover Académie's history 25 artists' portraits