It is with great excitement that Étude Arts announces the general management of Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen.

Described by Zachary Woolfe in The New York Times as a “complete artist,” the 23-year-old American countertenor is one of opera’s most promising rising stars and, in his breakout 2016-2017 season, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen was awarded the Grand Prize of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was the recipient of a Sara Tucker Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, First Prize winner of the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, and winner of the Irvin Scherzer Award from the George London Foundation.

Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen participated in the Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera in 2016, and, in the summer of 2017, he joined Wolf Trap Opera as a Studio Artist.  He becomes the first countertenor in the history of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, when he joins the company for the 2017-18 season and future engagements bring him to leading operatic and concert stages across North America and Europe.

The New York Times, Vogue, Opera News, and Opernwelt all have lauded the work of Zack Winokur and creations of the American director have been seen in New York, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Salzburg.

A background in contemporary dance entwined with a profound understanding of music enables the artist to explore dramatic relationships within a broad range of genres from Baroque to hip hop and operatic productions have brought a breadth of innovation to the stage from the music of Henry Purcell to Ana Sokolovic and from Francesco Cavalli to Matthew Aucoin.

Étude Arts is honored to welcome Zack Winokur as the first stage director on our roster.

The Opera Awards Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Skelton as its first Artistic Ambassador. A 2014 International Opera Awards winner, Stuart has maintained close links to the Foundation ever since, frequently working with bursary recipients both in masterclasses and on a one-to-one basis.

Speaking from New York, where he recently opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2016/17 season in Tristan und Isolde, Skelton said “I couldn’t be more thrilled to take on this new role with the Opera Awards Foundation. The work of the Foundation in supporting aspiring operatic talent is absolutely vital and it’s inspiring to see the impact which these bursaries have not only in terms of financial support, but in encouraging promising artists to achieve their ambitions.”

As Artistic Ambassador, Skelton will act as a mentor to artists supported by the Opera Awards Foundation. Opportunities will be made available to all bursary recipients for individual coaching and guidance, and a series of public masterclasses and events is planned for 2017.

Stuart Skelton opens the Metropolitan Opera 2016-17 season in the title role of a new production of Tristan und Isolde.  Bowing opposite Nina Stemme and working, again, under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, Skelton is the first Australian to sing a leading role in a Met opening night since Dame Joan Sutherland.  And, The New York Times gives him a full profile.  What a day!

Miles Mykkanen has garnered recognition on the world’s concert and operatic stages for his “focused, full-voiced tenor” (The New York Times). Of his performances in Eugene Onegin at the Juilliard School, Opera News wrote, “Mykkanen was a knockout as Lensky. The lyric intensity of his singing made each moment count, and the duel- scene aria was a stretch of sheer vocal gold.”

The 2016-2017 season sees Miles Mykkanen performing the title role in a fully- staged production of Bernstein’s Candide with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Belmonte in Opera Columbus’ new production of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. He makes his debut with the St. Thomas Church 5th Avenue Choir of Men and Boys and Concert Royal in performances of Händel’s Messiah and returns to the recital stage with Steven Blier under the auspices of the New York Festival of Song.

On May 25, 2015 the curtain came up on Étude Arts and, today, on our first anniversary, I celebrate a most transformative year.

Étude Arts was born out of a vision, energy, passion, and mindfulness that would impact the lives of the performer and the audience, while empowering both through curiosity, engagement, and the art of experience.

This first year has afforded the possibility to cultivate an idea and debut a platform for artist representation that celebrates creativity, diversity, and a meaningful approach to career management emboldened by the Arts in the twenty-first century.

We started with thirteen artists and now manage twenty-one including two conductors, representing an expanding dimension to the profile of our roster.  The scope of our business thrives across the globe in concert, opera, recital, recording, media, and education outreach.  We continue to reflect and challenge ourselves to be an evolving and artful enterprise and, inspired by the partnership with our artists, we embrace the growth, learning, and experience of the years ahead.

I am deeply thankful to Kate Bullock for her tireless service, support, and creativity as Managerial Associate.  And, borrowing from the adage ‘the manager doesn’t make the artist, the artist makes the manager,’ I cannot express my gratitude generously enough to the many artists who have made an investment in me, in themselves, and in the present and future of Étude Arts.

Étude Arts is pleased to announce the addition of bass-baritone, Andrew Foster-Williams, to the roster for general management!

Bill Palant announced his new artist management agency, Étude Arts, today. This independent firm, based in New York City, will offer flexible, personalized service underpinned by Palant’s authority and expertise.

Étude Arts proudly represents sopranos Christine Brandes, Julia Bullock, Christiane Libor, Melody Moore, and Lauren Snouffer; mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor; tenors Michele Angelini, Paul Appleby, Joseph Kaiser, Sean Panikkar, Stuart Skelton, Nicky Spence, and John Tessier; baritones Alan Opie and Sean Michael Plumb; and bases Peixin Chen, Soloman Howard, and Bastian Thomas Kohl.

 Étude Arts is committed to the development of exceptional artistry. Having guided the careers of some of the world’s most accomplished classical musicians, Palant approaches the culture and industry of classical performance with skill, discernment and care. Prior to launching Étude Arts, Palant was Senior Vice President at IMG Artists for nearly nineteen years. He has also worked at the Metropolitan Opera and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in psychology.

 Of the new agency, Palant says, “Étude Arts is dedicated to the holistic success of both performer and presenter; to health and well-being; to dynamic growth and career longevity; to progressive business practice; and to outstanding performance on a global stage. We are fuelled by integrity, and emboldened by the possibilities open to artists and the arts in the twenty-first century.”

The 2015 Best Choral Recording has been given to The Dream of Gerontius (Chandos) featuring Stuart Skelton under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis.