A dedicated interpreter of vocal music ranging from Renaissance to contemporary, mezzo-soprano Ava Pressman is a performer of choral, chamber, and solo repertoire. Her primary goal as an artist is to encourage others to consider the profound beauty and timeless endurance of music in a complicated and ever-changing world.

Ava has performed as a soloist with the Swarthmore College Orchestra, Swarthmore College Chorus, and Garnet Singers, and as a choral singer with the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Northwestern Bach Academy. On Sundays, she sings with the choir at St. Clements Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

This year, Ava was selected to participate in the Chamber Choir and Choral Conducting Workshop at the Yale School of Music Norfolk Summer Festival, the Northwestern Bach Academy (Young Artist Track), and the Queens College Baroque Opera Workshop. Ava worked with acclaimed conductors Andrew Megill and Jeff Douma, participated in masterclasses by Julianne Baird and Drew Minter, and expanded her knowledge of historical performance practice with leading scholars Jeffrey Grossman and Christa Patton. At these programs, she performed vocal music spanning several centuries and styles, including Monteverdi opera scenes, large-scale choral works by Bach and Handel, 20th-century American choral pieces, and several new works, including a world premiere.

Originally from New York City, Ava received her B.A. with High Honors from Swarthmore College. She studied music and political science, studying voice with Clara Rottsolk and Nancy Jantsch. Ava served as the alto section leader for Swarthmore’s vocal ensembles and was a frequent participant in the Fetter Chamber Music program, singing in several early music and art song programs. While at Swarthmore, Ava was selected to participate in a vocal masterclass with baritone Roderick Williams. Also, in January 2025, Ava was a winner of Swarthmore’s annual Concerto Competition, performing Christe Eleison from Bach’s Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) as a featured soloist with the Swarthmore College Orchestra.

Ava’s musical journey began at the age of nine in the New York City Children’s Chorus, where she sang at iconic NYC venues such as Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, toured internationally to Austria, Spain, and Canada, and was featured on albums Simple Gifts: American and British Art Songs of the 20th Century and Christmas in New York.