Speight's Invitation

From the very beginning of my tenure as General Director, in 1983, I was determined to establish at Seattle Opera a training program that would speak to what I believe are the needs of young artists. In the late 90s Perry Lorenzo shaped and defined an extremely successful program with Dean Williamson, now the Artistic Director of the Cleveland Opera and a very popular opera conductor, as music director. A few years ago Peter Kazaras was named as Artistic Director, with his emphasis going toward directing the operas. He was joined last season by Brian Garman as Music Director. Brian has conducted extensively in many American theaters and with Peter has formed a very exciting partnership. Kazaras, Garman, Lorenzo and I choose singers in a national search; Kazaras and Garman (with the program's coach-accompanists, visiting artists conducting master classes, and other artistic personnel) train them in opera theater, coach them on arias and in roles, educate them in the music business and what it takes to make a career, and give them a fully-staged performance in an opera with orchestra.

If you desire to grow into the complete opera singer and to reach for musical excellence and theatrical viability in your future career, then I invite you to audition for Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program.

- Speight Jenkins General Director of Seattle Opera