Czech-Canadian musician Anna Betka is a dynamic pianist, vocal and opera coach, and one of only two Czech diction specialists in North America who are native speakers of the language. In North America, Dr. Betka has performed in venues such as Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall, Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in New York, and the National Sawdust in Brooklyn. Dr. Betka has also performed in Germany, France, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and the UK. Festival appearances include Banff, Icicle Creek, Aspen, and Toronto.

As a chamber musician, Dr. Betka has performed, premiered and recorded many contemporary works at venues in New York, Alberta (Canada), Indiana, and Colorado. Dr. Betka holds degrees from the University of Toronto and SUNY Stony Brook. In May 2020, she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts, becoming part of the first graduating class of the COVID-19 pandemic. She received her education under the tutelage of Gil Kalish, Tina Dahl, and Boris Lysenko and has participated in numerous master classes with renowned artists and pedagogues, among them John Perry, Arnaldo Cohen, Yonty Solomon, Vladimir Tropp, and Angela Hewitt. In a diverse range of capacities, Ms. Betka has also worked with renowned conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Joseph Colaneri and John DeMain. 

As an educator, Dr. Betka served as Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University and Faculty Member at the Suzuki Schools of Westport & Orange, Suzuki on the Island, and Stony Brook University’s Pre-College Division. She held the position of Music Director at St. James Episcopal Church in St. James, NY.

Dr. Betka also has a background in singing and holds an Associate of the Royal Conservatory Toronto Diploma in Singing (ARCT). She currently serves on Music Staff at the Glimmerglass Festival as Principal Coach and Youth Chorus Director, at the Canadian Opera Company as Ensemble Studio Trainer and Repetiteur, and at the Palm Beach Opera as Associate Principal Coach. Vocal and opera coaching combine her three passions of language, singing, and piano, and she specializes in Czech diction. Dr. Betka has coached singers appearing in Czech opera at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, and the Staatsoper Stuttgart. This winter she will be the Czech coach for the Canadian Opera Company's production of Janáček’s Příhody lišky Bystroušky. Dr. Betka’s musical endeavors have been graciously and generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. She resides and makes her home in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

To book your Czech diction coaching, please email contact.annabetka@gmail.com.  

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