The Thirteen offers vocal fellowships to early career singers who have experienced obstacles in their pursuit of their musical aspirations and career. With this program The Thirteen aims to provide fellows with a high-level music making experience, mentorship, and connections within the field. This fellowship will be an inclusive, welcoming experience and is aimed at singers who are enrolled in or have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate education and aspire to be professional vocal ensemble and oratorio singers. Fellowship recipients will rehearse, perform, and tour (if applicable) with The Thirteen from October 11-18, 2026. They will be an integral part of this concert week, performing with the singers of The Thirteen in performances of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches and Margaret Bonds’ Credo.

OUR FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE

A high-level music making experience preparing and performing a concert of music with The Thirteen.
Mentorship from The Thirteen’s Artistic Director and The Thirteen’s Fellow Mentor(s).
Compensation of $1,275.00.
Travel stipend and per diem if located outside of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area

APPLICATION PROCESS | Complete applications are due June 15, 2026. Virtual auditions will be held in early July, 2026.

A resume/curriculum vitae that describes the applicant’s experience singing in ensembles and training in music, including graduation or matriculation dates (if applicable).

A letter of interest describing in specific terms (1) why the applicant is interested in the program, (2) why the applicant is a good fit for the program, (3) how the applicant has experienced obstacles in their pursuit of their musical aspirations and career, and (4) the applicant’s interest in a career as a professional singer of classical and oratorio music.
Contact information for two references which must include a professional conductor and a private voice teacher. A third professional reference is welcome but not required.
Two solo oratorio, opera, or art song recordings, of which one must be a recording of a work from the Baroque.

All the materials above must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. Please ensure that your name and “Vocal Fellow Application” is in the title of the file. Please fill out the online application form by clicking the button below.

SELECTION
This program is open to anyone currently preparing for or embarking upon a career as a professional singer of classical and oratorio music. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents with rights to employment in the United States. The Artistic Director of The Thirteen will select finalists based on the applications and accompanying materials and will invite each finalist to participate in a virtual interview and audition.

Artistic criteria are exceptional musicianship, an interest in the vocal ensemble field, strong sight-reading skills, and an ability to work well with others.

Apply here

CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information contact info@TheThirteenChoir.org.

2026 Mentors:

Steven Berlanga

Andréa Walker

Aryssa Leigh Burrs

STEVEN BERLANGA | MENTOR
Active as a conductor, soloist, and ensemble singer, Bass Steven Berlanga performs with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Thirteen, Kinnara, Exigence, Chorosynthesis, Brevitas, and has sung with the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, and Border Crossing of Minneapolis. He has received a MM degree in choral conducting at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, and a BM degree in vocal performance from California State University – Long Beach. As a soloist in oratorio and opera he has performed with New Voices Opera, IU Opera, Cabrillo Stage, the Santa Cruz Symphony, Cabrillo College, Westfield State University, the Illuminati Vocal Ensemble, and the Raven Consort. Among his roles on stage he has sung Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Villains in Tales of Hoffmann, Dick Deadeye in H.M.S Pinafore, and Colline in La Boheme. In 2014 he performed the role of Boris in The King in Yellow with New Voices Opera, and he returned in 2016 to perform as Stranger in The Forest of Dreams. In 2011 Mr. Berlanga performed the baritone solos in Hindemith’s When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d with the Cabrillo Summer Chorus, and he returned in 2012 to perform the baritone solos in Vaughan Williams ’Dona Nobis Pacem with the Santa Cruz Symphony and Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus.

ANDRÉA WALKER | MENTOR

Mexican-American soprano Andréa Walker is a passionate interpreter of Baroque music and vocal chamber music. She can be heard performing across the country with groups like GRAMMY® Award-winning orchestra Apollo’s Fire, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Les Délices, and The Thirteen. Other recent solo performance highlights include her Lincoln Center debut in Telemann's Der Tag des Gerichts with Masaaki Suzuki and Juilliard415, Haydn's Schöpfungsmesse with Yale Schola Cantorum (German tour), the role of Venus in Daniel Purcell's The Judgment of Paris at Amherst Early Music Festival, and being a guest artist at the Norfolk Chamber Choir Festival under the direction of Simon Carrington. Ms. Walker is pursuing a Doctorate in historical performance practice at Case Western Reserve University. Prior to her time in Cleveland, she graduated with a Master’s in vocal performance from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where she specialized in early music, oratorio, and art song. She is thrilled to be making her debut with Pegasus Early Music, NYS Baroque, and Seraphic Fire in the 2024-2025 season.

ARYSSA LEIGH BURRS | MENTOR

Vocalist Aryssa Leigh Burrs is hailed for her “rich sound and thoughtful musical ideas; while “transcending vocal styles and genres with flexibility and ease.” Ms. Burrs spent the Summer season as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera. While with CCO, she performed a solo Al Fresco Concert, covered the role of Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, and was a featured ensemble member in a pared down production of Carousel. Ms. Burrs is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she obtained a Masters of Music in Voice and Opera Performance. At Northwestern, she performed in numerous opera productions (Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus; Captain, Dog Days; Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress), while also appearing as a soloist with various choral and orchestral ensembles (Am I born, David T. Little; Terra Nostra, Stacy Garrop; The Branch Will Not Break, Christopher Cerrone). As she is committed to using music for cultural and social justice causes, one of Ms. Burrs’ most cherished performances includes her orchestral debut with the Charlotte Symphony as a featured soloist with the acclaimed drag queen production of Thorgy and the Thorchestra. During the pandemic, Aryssa Leigh got to continue to hone her passion for progressive concert work and a lifelong interest in exploring musical styles through story and song. Aryssa created, produced, and performed in the virtual debut performance of her concert entitled Identify, which raised funds for the non-profit organization “Phenomenal Womxn.” Aryssa is now the founder of ALB Produces, a community and production company that will present a season of “Concerts and Conversations” with the intent of creating art in all forms to build conversations around the human experience. Ms. Burrs holds both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in Choral/General Music from the University of Maryland in College Park.

Meet our Spring 2026 Vocal Fellows