Photograph courtesy Ian Pathak
University of Cincinnati master’s student Ian Pathak is headed to the mountains of North Carolina over the summer, where he will take the stage as part of the Brevard Music Center’s Opera Institute, a competitive and highly respected summer program for emerging opera singers. One of just 30 singers accepted nationwide, Pathak’s inclusion in the program marks a major milestone in his early career and a notable achievement for a local student working to make his mark on the national stage.
Pathak, who studies at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), is still adjusting to his recent transition from tenor to counter tenor, making his acceptance all the more impressive. “I switched voice types literally a couple months ago,” Pathak says. “I wasn’t really expecting anything, but it was a favorable outcome.”
The Brevard Music Center offered him a generous scholarship, and he recently received a national grant from Schmidt Vocal Arts to fully cover the rest of his tuition. Founded in 1936, the center is regarded as one of the premier summer training programs for classical musicians in the United States, and its opera institute is a coveted spot for young singers looking to launch professional careers. Alumni of the program have gone on to perform at some of the world’s top opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Some of its most notable alumni include conductor and Brevard Artistic Director Keith Lockhart and violist Roberto Díaz. For many, it is a pipeline to the opera industry.
The nine-week program located in the Blue Ridge Mountains provides intensive training and performance opportunities for artists. For Pathak, it means stage experience in productions like Mozart’s The Magic Flute, where he’ll sing a small role, as well as chorus work, chamber music, and opera scenes. More than that, this summer is a chance to build relationships with influential voices in opera.
Among those he’s most excited to work with is Dean Anthony, the program’s director of opera. “He runs other opera companies in the United States, and many of the students who’ve gone to Brevard have received jobs from him,” says Pathak. “He’s a great connection to have.”
Pathak’s journey into opera began in high school theater, though he admits he didn’t fall in love with classical singing right away. “I hated it at first,” he says. “But over four years of high school I really learned to love it.”
He later earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and gained experience at other programs, including the Aspen Music Festival and Music Academy of the West. Now at CCM, Pathak says he’s energized by the constant growth the opera world demands. “There’s always work to do. You’re never bored,” he says. He’s already performed a lead role in a fall production at CCM and is eager to take his next steps.
Photograph courtesy Ian Pathak
Looking ahead, he envisions a career that combines performance with education and mentorship. “In my twenties, I just want to see where things go. But later, I’d love to become a voice professor or even an artist manger.”
His advice for other young singers? “Stick with it. Even when it feels like something is unattainable, a breakthrough can happen days later. Don’t worry about anyone else’s path, just stay on yours.”
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