Thanks for Boston!
Thanks for the over 400 of you who joined us in Boston in January 2026 for NOA's next National Conference: Bold Voices, Boundless Futures, held at Fairmont Copley Plaza in the historic Back Bay area.
Embrace the spirit of resilience as we convene in Boston for the National Opera Association Conference, commemorating our 70th anniversary amidst the city’s indomitable energy and diverse cultural tapestry. The theme of this conference, Bold Voices, Boundless Futures, explores the enduring power of opera to unite and inspire us and celebrates our bold, creative voices.
The Dominick Argento Chamber Opera finals were held in the evening of January 7 at Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Theatre, followed by an opening night reception at the Boston Conservatory of Music at Berklee.
Sessions began on Thursday morning, followed by the Thursday opening luncheon with keynote address and the opening panel featuring bold voices from the opera academy and industry. Thursday evening featured the ever-popular Collegiate Opera Scenes finals.
Friday included a robust array of sessions, as well as the Poster Session and the Regional Networking luncheon. Student attendees enjoyed an offsite luncheon together. Friday evening we celebrated the 30th year of the NOA Legacy Project with a gala Legacy Concert as we honored three “Lift Every Voice” Legacy Award winners: Ms. Denyce Graves, Mr. Cliff Jackson, and Dr. Gail Robinson-Oturu.
The final day of the conference included more sessions, the New Works Expo, the annual Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition, and the closing banquet. NOA's Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Peter Sellars.
See the full conference schedule:
Conference Hotel
NOA has secured a special conference rate at the beautiful Fairmont Copley Plaza. Make sure to reserve your room well before the reservation cutoff date of Dec 13 to ensure your space!
Past NOA Conferences