Applications

How to Apply

Singers

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have valid documentation to work legally in the United States. If selected for the program, individuals must reside in Seattle for a total of 21weeks, from October through November 2012 and from January through April 2013. Before being accepted for an audition for the program, applicants must demonstrate, through submission of application materials, that they have the potential for a career in opera.

Application

Applications must be completed and returned to Seattle Opera, postmarked no later than October 1, 2011. Applications will be processed and audition notices will be e-mailed by October 28, 2011 for Seattle auditions and November 7, 2011 for Cincinnati and New York Auditions. Auditions are not guaranteed.

Application materials should be addressed to:
Seattle Opera Young Artists Program
1020 John Street
P.O. Box 9248
Seattle, WA 98109-0248
Applications via fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

Application Materials Must Include:

A completed application form (download here)
A recording of two contrasting arias (on audio CD or DVD; No MP3s)
A non-refundable $40 USD application fee (personal check or money order payable to Seattle Opera; do not send cash)
Resume of education and performing experience
A current 8" x 10" headshot
Name and contact information for three professional references (no letters of recommendation)

Auditions

Seattle Opera will hold auditions for our Young Artists Program on the dates listed below. Applicants must be prepared to sing five (5) arias, with at least one each in Italian, German, French, and English. In addition, applicants should prepare a comedic or dramatic monologue less than 2 minutes in length from an American play published after 1940. No Shakespeare, poetry, or translated opera libretti. Seattle Opera will provide an accompanist for these auditions, although applicants are allowed to bring their own.

Audition Dates and Locations

Seattle
November 19, 2011
(Callbacks same day)

Cincinnati
November 30 – December 1, 2011
(Callbacks same day)

New York City
December 3 – 5, 2011
(Callbacks on December 6, 2011)

Pianists

Eligibility

YAP pianist/coach applicants must be U.S. citizens or have valid documentation to work legally in the United States. If selected for the program, individuals must reside in Seattle for a total of 21 weeks, from October through November 2012, and from January through April 2013. YAP pianist/coach applicants must demonstrate major potential, and must have some previous experience as a répétiteur. Seattle Opera YAP reserves the right, without explanation, to decline to hear pianists who do not meet the criteria to the satisfaction of Seattle Opera YAP.

Application

Applications must be sent to Seattle Opera, and postmarked no later than November 10, 2011. Applicants will be notified by email no later than November 19, 2011 as to whether or not they have been granted an audition. An audition is NOT guaranteed.

Materials should be addressed to:
Seattle Opera Young Artists Program
1020 John Street
P.O. Box 9248
Seattle, WA 98109-0248

Applications via fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

Application Materials Must Include:

Resume listing education and professional experience
Current 8” x 10” headshot
Non-refundable $40 application fee (personal check or money order payable to Seattle Opera; do NOT send cash)
Name and contact information for three professional references (do not send letters of recommendation). Examples of acceptable references include: music directors/conductors, opera general/artistic directors, opera workshop directors, artistic administrators, and coaches. Do NOT use your piano teacher as a reference.
Brief letter indicating your preference of audition location (Seattle or New York City), and audition date. Please be advised that audition times in New York City are extremely limited.

Please note that there is no specific application form to complete. Do NOT send audio or video recordings.

Audition Requirements

Applicants should be prepared to play and sing all parts in the following operatic excerpts. Not all excerpts will be heard during the audition.

• Puccini: La Bohème – Act I, rehearsal 25 to end of act
• Bizet: Carmen – Act II, Quintet (“No. 15”)
• R. Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos – Prologue, rehearsal 108 (“Composer’s Aria”) to end of prologue
• Verdi: Otello – Act I, beginning to rehearsal M
• Wagner: Tannhäuser – Act II, scene 1 “Dich, teure Halle”
• Mozart: Don Giovanni – Act I, Finale (“No. 13”) from preceding recitative (“Guarda un po come seppe”) to bar 273 (E-flat Major Allegro 6/8)

Audition Locations and Dates

New York City – December 3-5, 2011

Seattle – January 9-13, 2012

YAP pianist/coach applicants will need to play only one audition to be considered for the program. There will be no callback auditions.