“By the end of CLA Berkshires… I felt as though I unlocked something my voice and my artistry were missing.”
Xiaofeng Hou, Stephanie Keledjian, and Juliet Rand in the CLA Berkshires Grand Finale at the Adams Theatre
Classic Lyrics Arts Berkshires was nothing short of amazing. Spending two weeks of intensive work dedicated to the genius of Mozart while surrounded by amazing artists was such a memorable experience that I will take on for the rest of my career.
Every morning, I was greeted with the beauty of the Berkshires Mountains in Massachusetts, with its luscious greens and beautiful wildlife. We were surrounded by a serenity that felt worlds away from the rush of daily life and were to be fully present in the work each day!
The CLA Berkshires campus
CLA Berkshires is a beautiful program that helped me learn more about my voice and what fits best for me – and I feel like I found who I was as a singer! I learned so much from our instructors Glenn Morton, John Viscardi, Daniel Isengart, Ennio Brugnolo, Mina Kim, as well as Enes Pektas (a CLA Vocal Academy & Berkshires Alumn). All of the CLA Faculty was so deeply committed to help us singers grow not only musically but also as young professionals.
One of the best parts of the experience of CLA Berkshires was being surrounded by such an incredible group of singers and pianists. Everyone brought their own unique voice, artistry, and perspective to Mozart’s music. The level of talent I was surrounded by was truly inspiring. From day one I experienced a sense of camaraderie, encouragement, and shared passion. Watching my colleagues interpret the same music in different ways reminded me of opera’s boundless possibilities, which made me grateful and more motivated to pursue this art. This is truly a group of artists I look forward to working with in the future - wherever in the world that may be.
Stephanie Keledjian with 2025 CLA Berkshires Artists & Pianists during a performance
By the end of the two-and-a-half weeks, I felt more connected with my voice as well as with Mozart himself. I found a new love for his recitatives and feel as though I unlocked something my voice and my artistry was missing. I am truly grateful for the guidance, inspiration, and the growth that CLA Berkshires gave me.