University Spotlight: California Institute of the Arts
In this column, we spotlight amazing vocal programs and highlight how they’re helping singers!
California Institute of the Arts
Herb Alpert School of Music
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What Makes You Unique
The VoiceArts Specialization at CalArts is designed for creative artists whose primary means of expression is the voice—for those who wish to develop both their vocal mechanism and their unique artistic voice. Designed for both those who seek to be distinctive and expressive makers of original art, and for those who wish to explore existing music, this program supports the development of a personal voice and sound, and acquisition of tools, techniques, and concepts with which to develop and contextualize their work. Regardless of direction, our diverse faculty provide individualized mentorship, and encourage self-initiated projects and collaborative work, preparing students for a wide range of career possibilities.
The BFA VoiceArts program emphasizes healthy vocal production, control, stylistic adaptability, and experimentation, as well as strong musicianship, discipline, broad knowledge, creativity, and active exploration. Performance opportunities are extensive and range from choirs to electronic voice ensembles, from non-traditional opera productions to solo work in experimental bands, and from world music ensembles to post-folk singing.
MFA VoiceArts students enter with a desire to pursue experimental music and art—“vox outside the box”—and wish to advance the frontiers of vocal music, the voice itself, research, and multidisciplinary work. Graduate students make project-based and self-generated creative work, and select courses including studies in experimental voice, improvisation, sound art, electronics, world voice traditions, and courses from other schools within the Institute engaging theater, performance art, or other topics of interest.
CalArts also offers degrees related to vocal music including Performer-Composer, Composition & Experimental Sound Practices, Experimental Pop, and our World Music Performance programs.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Financial aid at CalArts comes from a variety of sources, including private, institutional, state, and federal funds, all meant to help cover the costs of attending college. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships based on their admissions portfolio and audition. These scholarships are limited and competitive. Faculty identify merit recipients through a holistic approach, taking into consideration their artistic and academic potential. For prospective graduates in some programs, the merit scholarship may also be supplemented through teaching assistantships, work stipends, or other forms of campus employment.
Domestic students with financial need who submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline will be reviewed for eligibility to receive equity grants when applying for our undergraduate programs. The FAFSA may qualify prospective graduate students to receive a Federal Work Study allocation.
Performance Opportunities & Events
Opera Theater: Opera Theater is a collaboration between the Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts and the School of Theater in the spring to produce a contemporary opera by newer composers or even our students. This year’s production will be John Cage’s “Song Books” in collaboration with the Schools of Music, Theater, AND Dance!
Voice Events: Taking place once or twice a semester, Voice students perform in a concert highlighting their vocal and artistic growth.
Jazz CD Recording Session: In the spring, Voice students sometimes get involved in a recording session with other CalArts Music students. These session have taken place in major studios in LA including Capitol Records and Evergreen Studios.
World Music Festival: At the end of the spring semester, Voice students can be found performing in the World Music Festival, the School of Music’s largest event, in our African and Indonesian ensembles.
Voice Student Mid-Residence and Graduation Recitals: VoiceArts students are required to complete two recitals during their residency.
Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater Performances: REDCAT is CalArts’s downtown LA performance venue within the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex. Faculty, alumni, and sometimes students can be found performing there throughout the year.
Ensembles: Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Faculty and Student Jazz Ensembles, African Song Ensemble Period Instrument Ensemble / Baroque Ensemble, Chamber Music, Conducted Collective Ensemble, Collaborative Music Ensemble, Improvisation Ensemble, and Multi-Focus Ensemble.
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni include Timur Bekbosunov (Grammy-nominated opera singer and film producer); Sharon Chohi Kim (experimental opera performer, composer, and sound artist), Kate Conklin (vocalist and performance coach, vocalist for Cirque du Soleil’s “O”), Luc Kleiner (singer for the Los Angeles Master Chorale and composer), Micaela Tobin (composer and sound artist), Meltem Ege (Turkish Jazz vocalist and CalArts Faculty), Kathryn Shuman (soprano, composer, and studio singer for films like Wicked (2024), Superman (2025), & How to Train Your Dragon (2025)), Laura Bohn (international opera singer), Clara Plestis (vocalist and Emmy Award winner as Executive Producer for “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic”), Carmina Escobar (extreme vocalist, improviser, and intermedia artist)
