Michael Cordovana
Principal Vocal Coach and Accompanist

Internationally recognized coach and accompanist Michael Cordovana returns this summer for his third season as Principal Vocal Coach and Accompanist at Shaker Mountain Performing Arts Festival. He holds a doctorate from The Catholic University of America and he has studied at the Peabody Conservatory and the Aspen School of Music. He studied piano with William Masselos and Victor Babin and he studied accompanying with Brooks Smith. He has received numerous grants for study in Germany, Austria and Italy, and has performed extensively in the United States and Europe. Dr. Cordovana has been assistant conductor for The Washington Opera and the Providence Opera Theatre. For 25 years he was head of the music staff at the famed Dallas Opera where he served as assistant to Maestro Nicola Rescigno.

In 1989, he was responsible for the musical preparation of the world premiere of Dominick Argento’s The Aspern Papers, starring Frederica von Stade, Elizabeth Söderstrom, John Aler, Carmen Balthrop and Myra Merritt. In addition, he has worked with Renata Scotto, Jon Vickers, Mateo Manuguerra, Sesto Bruscantini and Joan Sutherland and has assisted conductors Richard Bonynge, Christian Badea, Berislav Klobucar, Nicola Rescigno, Antal Dorati, Donato Renzetti, Roberto Benaglio, to name only a few.

He is currently a Professor of Music at The Catholic University of America where he heads the vocal department. In addition, he heads the vocal program at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival and the Institute in Vietre sul mare, Italy.