JTVA is an Oakland, California based nonprofit established to encourage and cultivate, through competition and education, the emerging talents of singers who aspire to a professional career in vocal performance.
IN THE News
2020
2020 James toland vocal arts VOCAL COMPETITION
announcement
James Toland Vocal Arts, Inc. has announced the cancellation of the 7th Annual JTVA Vocal Competition Weekend originally scheduled for June 13 & 14, 2020.
2019
2019 James toland vocal arts VOCAL COMPETITION
winners announced
Photos by Samuel Crossley
Soprano Felicia Moore won the Tier I Grand Prize award and soprano Lindsey Reynolds was awarded first place in Tier II. Read more here.
Photo by Samuel Crossley
2019
2019 JTVA VOCAL COMPETITION
FINALISTS ANNOUNCEMENT
James Toland Vocal Arts, Inc. has announced the 14 finalists for its annual JTVA Vocal Competition, to be held in Oakland on June 14 & 15, 2019. The prestigious JTVA competition awards $100,000 in prize money and gives gifted, emerging singers exposure to expert judging, master classes, performance opportunities, and more.
2019
2019 JAMES TOLAND vocal arts VOCAL COMPETITION
SEMIFINALISTS ANNOUNCEMENT
“Many highly-talented and remarkable singers have begun their careers at JTVA,” said James Toland, founder and general director. “We are delighted to have so many singers apply for this 6th JTVA Vocal Competition weekend and yet we’re daunted at the challenge of selecting only fourteen finalists from among this impressive group of excellent singers…”
2019
WITH A SONG IN MY HEART - JTVA FUNDRAISER
Lively performances of over a dozen classical arias and songs from popular musicals captivated a sold-out house of more than 70 people during JTVA’s annual “With a Song in my Heart” fundraiser February 17, 2019.
The performances started with a duet between Don Giovanni and Zerlina sung by SF Opera Adler Fellows bass-baritone Christian Pursell and mezzo Ashley Dixon Santelli (the grand finals winner of the Met Opera National Council Auditions) and ended with a rendition of Rodgers & Hart’s “With a song in my heart,” by all six singers (Ashley Dixon, Arnold Livingston Geis, Maria Natale, Christian Pursell, Paige Patrick, Stefan Alexander Miller and accompanied by Paul Caccamo on piano). The repertoire included selections by Donizetti, Puccini, and Bizet as well as 20th-century musicals like “Oh, Kay!” and “My Fair Lady” as the singers moved among the admiring diners on restaurant C’era Una Volta’s mezzanine and main floor. The Alameda restaurant that has hosted the event since its inception in 2017.
KGO-TV
"People hanging out on Tuesday at Oakland City Center got an "operatic" surprise. A flash mob chorus of 50 broke out into song during lunchtime. The group is from the Oakland-based nonprofit James Toland Vocal Arts," which helps develop and promote singers' careers...."
2017
JAMES TOLAND VOCAL COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
"The fourth annual James Toland Vocal Arts Competition ended on Saturday in victory for soprano Julie Adams in Tier One. It’s another feather in the cap for Adams, who has been admired in the Bay Area in numerous roles, from Blanche in the Merola Opera’s Streetcar Named Desire, Mimi in S.F. Opera’s recent La boheme, SF Opera Lab’s Chamberworks Concerts, to Rose in Street Scene at Oakland East Bay Symphony...."
2017
SOPRANOS TAKE THE LEAD IN PRIZE WINNING AT FOURTH ANNUAL
JAMES TOLAND VOCAL ARTS COMPETITION IN OAKLAND
Photo by Vibeke Johnson
Soprano Julie Adams won the Tier I Grand Prize award and soprano Maya Kherani was awarded first place in Tier II at the fourth Annual James Toland Vocal Arts (JTVA) Vocal Competition held on Saturday, June 24, 2017.
Photo by Samuel Crossley
2017
DAVID GOCKLEY AND DEBORAH VOIGT - "INDUSTRY LEADERS” PARTICIPATE IN OAKLAND VOICE COMPETITION
SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
"When the fourth-annual James Toland Vocal Arts is held June 23–24 in Oakland’s Holy Names University, the jury will include a man who has been listening to (and launching big careers for) hundreds of young voices for more than four decades. For those in auditions or a contest, San Francisco Opera General Director Emeritus David Gockley is always a welcome presence...."
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2016
TWO JUILLIARD-TRAINED VOCALISTS WIN TOP PRIZES
Bass-baritone Cody Quattlebaum won both the Tier I Grand Prize and Audience Favorite awards and soprano Eva Gheorghiu was awarded first place in Tier II at the third Annual James Toland Vocal Arts (JTVA) Vocal Competition held on Saturday, June 25, 2016.
Photos courtesy of Samuel Crossley