Warren Claytor, Caroline Claytor (daughter of Sally Paxson Davis), AVA Chairman of the Board B.A. (Mackie) MacLean Jr., and AVA President & Artistic Director K. James McDowell officiate the ribbon cutting ceremony for AVA's newest campus building at 1916 Spruce Street.
(R to L): (R) The name of AVA's newest building at 1916 Spruce Street is revealed: The Sally Paxson Davis Building, named in honor of the granddaughter AVA's founder, Helen Corning Warden. (L) Eager onlookers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony
AVA President & Artistic Director K. James McDowell distributes gilded sledgehammers to guests at the October, 2012 Groundbreaking of the Sally Paxson Davis Building at 1916 Spruce Street.
Robert Capanna of The Presser Foundation kicks off the Renovation of the future home of The Presser Library within The Academy of Vocal Arts' newest building at 1916 Spruce Street. The Richard Tucker Award, considered the "Heisman Trophy" of the opera world, has been awarded to an AVA alum for the past four consecutive years! AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater, located within 1920 Spruce Street, will be outfitted with improved seating and lighting. AVA’s existing campus at 1920 and 1918 Spruce Street will now expand to third identical brownstone on the block at 1916 Spruce Street to provide more resources to Resident Artists and audiences. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Richard Tucker Award, considered the "Heisman Trophy" of the opera world, has been awarded to an AVA alum for the past four consecutive years!
The Richard Tucker Award, considered the "Heisman Trophy" of the opera world, has been awarded to an AVA alum for the past four consecutive years!
AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater, located within 1920 Spruce Street, will be outfitted with improved seating and lighting.
AVA’s existing campus at 1920 and 1918 Spruce Street will now expand to third identical brownstone on the block at 1916 Spruce Street to provide more resources to Resident Artists and audiences.

Raising Our Voices

The Campaign for the Academy of Vocal Arts

Total Campaign Goal · $10 Million

The Raising Our Voices campaign goals are twofold: to renovate and expand upon AVA’s existing historic facilities to better serve both our artists and our audiences, and to increase AVA’s endowment to ensure financial stability in the years to come. These funds will help AVA to realize its mission of providing the finest opera training: to recruit the most promising young artists, to train them by world’s finest faculty, and to introduce them to you in a venue that has been renovated and expanded to meet their training and performance needs.

Strengthening our Endowment · $6 Million

Growth of the Academy of Vocal Arts’ endowment is essential to the sustainability of our tuition-free program. AVA’s Resident Artists – tomorrow’s leading opera soloists – depend on our tuition-free program and fellowships to dedicate themselves fully to the individualized training from world-renowned faculty that only AVA provides.

Campus Expansion and Renovation · $4 Million

The expansion to 1916 Spruce Street and renovation of AVA’s historic facilities at 1918 and 1920 Spruce Street will enable us to provide educational and performance spaces that meet the needs of today’s artists and audiences.

Highlights include:

Campaign Donors

Thanks to our generous early supporters, over $8.5 million has already been raised! We give our heartfelt thanks to the generous individuals who have already made gifts to the Raising Our Voices campaign.

How To Get Involved

Renderings & Floor Plans