Cheltenham Vocal Academy was founded in 2018 by Aidan Smith, an international opera singer, workshop leader and voice teacher. His aim was to create a safe and supportive environment for people from all backgrounds and of all ages to explore their own potential through singing and music making.

Since then we have trained many diverse singers in a wide variety of styles; helping to build confidence through performance. The inspiration for founding such an organisation comes from our team’s desire to make top quality performance and education accessible on a local level.

Last year we produced a fully staged production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Discovering a real enthusiasm for opera in the local community we are now embarking on The Fairy Queen, an opera in English based on Shakespeare's a Midsummer Night’s Dream. With an exceptional cast and creative team we endeavour to bring this opera to both new and seasoned opera lovers at the Cheltenham Playhouse in the last week of November 2023.

Sadly we cannot afford to self fund our project, therefore we ask for your help! We are extremely grateful for any funds received and will make sure that your money works as hard as we are. All donations will be acknowledged and you will be thanked in our opera programme (unless you wish to remain anonymous).

If you are able to support us at £250 or more we would be delighted to chat to you about how you might like to be thanked or how you might like to get further involved.

We hope you enjoy watching and being a part of this wonderful project as much as we do!

“The CVA is an incredibly innovative and enabling organisation. As one of the least experienced in opera, I have the opportunity to develop my talents amongst excellent singers and it is developing me beyond my wildest aspirations. My singing lessons with the founder only enhance this further, as he has the ability to help me to discover and enhance my voice, thus helping my emotional and mental wellbeing tremendously.” Judy Hopkins, Mezzo Soprano

“I became a student at CVA two years ago - and it revolutionised my life as it generated a renewed and completely absorbing interest in singing. Further, being chosen to perform Fairy Queen on a public stage offers me a major challenge and a wonderful opportunity for further development of my singing skills.” Alan Craig, Bass

“The Fairy Queen has offered me as a retired person a marvellous opportunity not only to develop my singing skills but to gain experience of opera and staging. It has been great to engage with other creative spirits and I welcome the opportunity to take our production into the local community.” Toby Thacker, Baritone

“Involvement in the Fairy Queen has developed my skills as a singer and given me a greater awareness of how I present myself to others. This brings benefit to my professional role as a manager and in other personal interactions.” Howard Naylor, Tenor

“The Fairy Queen is such an exciting project to be involved in. For me personally it’s allowing me to grow as a singer and be involved with a great community of diverse artists.” Cathy Keating

“The Fairy Queen and CVA are helping me to become a more confident and well-rounded singer and performer and I have been given opportunities to try different genres of music which I otherwise wouldn’t have taken part in.” Jo Hopton, Soprano

“Being part of this production has offered me the chance to work in a creative team of interesting people and learn how a new production comes together, boosting my confidence and bringing a huge amount of enjoyment.” Fi Bennett, Soprano

“Having always loved singing but being reticent to sing in front of anyone, my three years with CVA and now doing the Fairy Queen have really boosted my confidence and I now want to get better and better! Being part of an amazing and supportive team of people means that we can all grow and achieve and not worry about making mistakes.” Debbie Vass, Mezzo Soprano