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Welsh National Opera

Associate Artist Programme 2025-2026

This application closed on Tuesday October 1, 2024.


Welsh National Opera is offering the opportunity for singers to join its ranks as a ‘WNO Associate Artist’. This is a full-time, year-long traineeship between August 2025 and July 2026.   

  • Are you an emerging artist in the early stages of your professional career? 
  • Do you have a minimum of 1 year’s vocal training at HE, College or Conservatoire level? 
  • Do you have relevant opera performance experience as a Chorister or Principal at College and/or professional level? 
  • Are you a UK resident and/or have the right to work within the UK? 
  • Have you encountered barriers to employment in opera? 
  • Would you benefit from a year of performance, covering, singing lessons, coaching and language lessons, within a national opera Company?

If this sounds like you then we'd love to hear from you!

We are proud of our steps towards better inclusivity and now have one of the most diverse Boards in the British opera industry. However, opera is still viewed as elitist and we know that significantly more diversity in our work force is required to start to break down this conception, and to make sure that all people see WNO as an open and accessible option for a career in the arts. This would be an ideal opportunity for current students and recent graduates who have specialised in any strand of performance or vocal studies and are looking to develop their performance skills and career within an opera company. Welsh National Opera are committed to building an inclusive Company that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for the role of Associate Artist. If you have experienced social and/or economic barriers to employment in opera, we want to hear from you, so please do feel free to share this with us in your covering letter.

The WNO Associate Artist programme aims to encourage singers from all backgrounds to take part. WNO is grateful for the generous support of the Shirley & Rolf Olsen Bursary, Sheila and Richards Brooks Bursary, Anthony Evans Scholarship, The Eira Francis Davies Bursary, The WNO E L Schäfer Bursary, Bateman Family Charitable Trust, Joseph Strong Frazer Trust, Stanley Picker Trust, Chris Ball Bursary, and The Parry Family Bursary towards our WNO Associate Artist Scheme.

  • The work of an Associate Artist may include joining the chorus for certain productions and/or concerts.

Please fill out the details below.

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Mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn cynnig cyfle i gantorion ymuno â'r cwmni fel 'Artist Cyswllt WNO'. Mae hon yn rhaglen hyfforddiant lawn amser, blwyddyn o hyd rhwng mis Awst 2025 a mis Gorffennaf 2026.  

  • Ydych chi'n artist sy’n dod i’r amlwg yng nghamau cynnar ei yrfa broffesiynol?
  • Oes gennych chi o leiaf blwyddyn o hyfforddiant lleisiol ar lefel AU, Coleg neu Conservatoire?
  • Oes gennych chi brofiad perfformio opera perthnasol fel Côr neu Bennaeth ar lefel Coleg a/neu broffesiynol?
  • Ydych chi’n breswylydd yn y DU a/neu â’r hawl i weithio yn y DU?
  • Ydych chi wedi dod ar draws rhwystrau i gyflogaeth mewn opera?
  • A fyddech chi'n elwa o flwyddyn o berfformio, dirprwyo, gwersi canu, hyfforddi a gwersi iaith, o fewn Cwmni opera cenedlaethol?

Os yw hyn yn swnio fel chi, yna byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych!

Rydym yn falch o’n camau tuag at well cynwysoldeb ac erbyn hyn mae gennym un o’r Byrddau mwyaf amrywiol yn y diwydiant opera ym Mhrydain. Fodd bynnag, mae opera’n dal i gael ei hystyried yn elitaidd a gwyddom fod angen llawer mwy o amrywiaeth yn ein gweithlu i ddechrau chwalu’r cysyniad hwn, ac i wneud yn si?r bod pawb yn gweld WNO fel opsiwn agored a hygyrch ar gyfer gyrfa yn y celfyddydau. Byddai hwn yn gyfle delfrydol i fyfyrwyr presennol a graddedigion diweddar sydd wedi arbenigo mewn unrhyw faes perfformio neu astudiaethau lleisiol ac sydd am ddatblygu eu sgiliau perfformio a’u gyrfa o fewn cwmni opera. Mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru wedi ymrwymo i feithrin Cwmni cynhwysol sydd yr un mor amrywiol â’r cymunedau a wasanaethwn. Pa bynnag hunaniaeth rydych yn ei harddel, a beth bynnag fo’ch cefndir, rydym yn eich croesawu i ymgeisio am y rôl Artist Cyswllt. Os ydych wedi profi rhwystrau cymdeithasol a/neu economaidd rhag cyflogaeth ym myd opera, rydym am glywed gennych, felly mae croeso i chi rannu hyn gyda ni yn eich llythyr eglurhaol.

Nod rhaglen Artist Cyswllt WNO yw annog cantorion o bob cefndir i gymryd rhan. Mae WNO yn ddiolchgar am gefnogaeth hael Bwrsariaeth Shirley a Rolf Olsen, Bwrsariaeth Sheila a Richards Brooks, Ysgoloriaeth Anthony Evans, Bwrsariaeth Eira Francis Davies, Bwrsariaeth E L Schäfer WNO, Ymddiriedolaeth Elusennol Teulu Bateman, Ymddiriedolaeth Joseph Strong Frazer, Ymddiriedolaeth Stanley Picker, Bwrsari Chris Ball, a Bwrsari Teulu Parry tuag at ein Cynllun Artist Cyswllt WNO.

  • Gall gwaith Artist Cyswllt gynnwys ymuno â’r corws ar gyfer rhai cynyrchiadau a/neu gyngherddau.

Llenwch y manylion isod.

Please contact at castingassistant@wno.org.uk with any questions regarding this application. For technical help, please contact help@yaptracker.com.

Personal Information / Gwybodaeth Bersonol

No spaces, dashes etc. phone number fields

Contact Information / Gwybodaeth Gyswllt

*If you do not have the right to work in the UK, please do not apply. / Os nad oes gennych yr hawl i weithio yn y DU, peidiwch â gwneud cais.

Application

We anticipate that the application results will be released by 11 October 2024.

First-round Auditions
Successful candidates will be invited to a first-round audition in a choice of five cities around the UK. We will do our best to accommodate your first choice but reserve the right to assign a different city if necessary. The audition will last 5 minutes, followed by a 5-minute informal chat with the panel.

- The panel is likely to consist of WNO Head of Casting & Chorus and/or WNO Head of Music & Casting Advisor and/or WNO Deputy Head of Music and/or Rebecca Evans CBE.
- An accompanist will be provided.

Auditions will take place in the following cities in 2024:
- Cardiff (21, 29, 30, October; 1, 4 November)
- London (6, 7 November)
- Glasgow (8 November)
- Manchester (15 November)
- Birmingham (19 November)

When attending a first-round audition you will need to bring two contrasting arias/songs with you. You will be asked to sing one of these, which you can choose. The panel may ask to hear the second piece, but this is not guaranteed. As the auditions will only last 10 minutes, including a brief chat, please choose arias/songs of an appropriate length.

We anticipate that the first-round audition results will be released by 6 December 2024.

Second-round Auditions
Successful auditionees will be invited to a second-round audition which will take place in WNO’s home, Wales Millennium Centre, in Cardiff on 8, 9 & 10 January 2025.

- The second-round audition panel will be joined by the WNO Director of Artistic Administration.
- An accompanist will be provided.
- WNO can contribute towards the cost of travel to all applicants selected for second-round auditions.

When attending a second-round audition, you will need to bring at least three contrasting arias/songs with you. You will be asked to sing two of these: the first will be of your own choice and one the choice of the panel. The audition will last 10 minutes, followed by a 5-minute informal chat with the panel. Please choose arias/songs of an appropriate length.

We anticipate that the second-round audition results will be released by 28 February 2025.

We cannot guarantee an alternative audition date or time if candidates are not available for each audition round.

Cais

Rydym yn rhagweld y bydd canlyniadau'r cais yn cael eu rhyddhau erbyn 11 Hydref 2024.

Clyweliadau Cyntaf
Bydd ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus yn cael eu gwahodd i glyweliad cyntaf mewn dewis o bum dinas ledled y DU. Byddwn yn gwneud ein gorau i fodloni eich dewis cyntaf, ond rydym yn cadw’r hawl i ddynodi dinas wahanol os oes angen. Bydd y clyweliad yn para 5 munud, ac yna bydd sgwrs anffurfiol 5 munud o hyd gyda'r panel.

- Mae’r panel yn debygol o gynnwys Pennaeth Castio a Chorws a/neu Bennaeth Cerdd ac Ymgynghorydd Castio WNO a/neu Ddirprwy Bennaeth Cerdd WNO a/neu Rebecca Evans CBE.
- Bydd cyfeilydd ar gael.

Cynhelir clyweliadau yn y dinasoedd canlynol yn 2024:
- Caerdydd (21, 29, 30 Hydref; 1, 4 Tachwedd)
- Llundain (6, 7 Tachwedd)
- Glasgow (8 Tachwedd)
- Manceinion (15 Tachwedd)
- Birmingham (19 Tachwedd)

Bydd angen i chi ddod ag o leiaf dwy gân/aria sy'n cyferbynnu gyda chi ar gyfer eich clyweliad cyntaf. Bydd gofyn ichi ganu un o’r rhain, a byddwch yn cael dewis pa un. Gall y panel ofyn i glywed yr ail ddarn, ond nid oes sicrwydd o hynny. Ni fydd y clyweliadau’n para’n hirach na 10 munud, a hynny gan gynnwys sgwrs fer, felly dewiswch ganeuon/ariâu o hyd priodol.

Rydym yn rhagweld y bydd canlyniadau’r clyweliadau rownd gyntaf yn cael eu rhyddhau erbyn 6 Rhagfyr 2024.

Ail Glyweliadau
Bydd clyweleion llwyddiannus yn cael eu gwahodd i glyweliad ail rownd a gynhelir yng nghartref WNO, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, Caerdydd ar 8, 9 a 10 Ionawr 2025.

- Bydd Cyfarwyddwr Gweinyddiaeth Artistig WNO yn ymuno â phanel yr ail glyweliad.
- Bydd cyfeilydd ar gael.
- Gall WNO gyfrannu at gost teithio i bob ymgeisydd a ddewisir ar gyfer clyweliadau ail rownd.

Bydd angen ichi ddod ag o leiaf tair cân/aria sy'n cyferbynnu gyda chi ar gyfer eich ail glyweliad. Bydd gofyn i chi ganu dau o'r rhain; bydd y cyntaf o'ch dewis eich hun ac un o ddewis y panel. Bydd y clyweliad yn para 10 munud, ac yna bydd sgwrs anffurfiol 5 munud o hyd gyda'r panel. Dewiswch ganeuon/ariâu sydd o hyd priodol.

Rydym yn rhagweld y bydd canlyniadau clyweliadau ail rownd yn cael eu rhyddhau erbyn 28 Chwefror 2025.

Ni allwn warantu dyddiad nac amser clyweliad arall os nad yw ymgeiswyr ar gael ar gyfer pob rownd clyweliad.
Number of selections required: 2.
Selection 1
Selection 2

Cover Form / Ffurflen clawr

(maximum of 700 words but there is no requirement to write this much unless you need to)
(uchafswm o 700 gair ond nid oes angen ysgrifennu cymaint oni bai bod angen)
You must be signed in to add your resume.

(No more than 5 minutes per video but less is fine)
(Dim mwy na 5 munud y fideo ond mae llai yn dderbyniol) Maximum number of selections permitted: 1

You must be signed in to add videos.
(No more than 5 minutes per audio but less is fine)
(Dim mwy na 5 munud y fideo ond mae llai yn dderbyniol) Maximum number of selections permitted: 1
You must be signed in to add audio files.
This should be no more than 2 pages.
Ni ddylai hwn fod yn fwy na 2 dudalen.
You must be signed in to add your resume.
e.g. Access requirements, date limitations etc./ e.e. Gofynion mynediad, dyddiadau anghyfleus ac ati.

Equality & Diversity Monitoring / Monitro Cydraddoldeb ac Amrywiaeth

Welsh National Opera collects equality and diversity information for monitoring purposes to ensure that our policies and procedures are effective. The Company is committed to the principles of fairness, consistency and equality of opportunity for all. We are committed to engaging a workforce that reflects all sections of society and the data employees share will be used to monitor and evaluate if these obligations are being met. To assist us in this endeavour, the Company would appreciate the support and co-operation of all job applicants. We will ensure that our practices comply with the Equality Act 2010. No job applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment particularly on the grounds of sex, race, nationality, ethnic origin, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, disability, sexuality, gender reassignment, age or religious belief. The information provided on this form is anonymised in order to keep it fully confidential and accessibility is strictly limited in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Mae Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru yn casglu gwybodaeth fonitro am gydraddoldeb ac amrywiaeth i sicrhau bod ein polisïau a'n gweithdrefnau yn effeithiol. Mae'r Cwmni yn ymrwymedig i egwyddorion tegwch, cysondeb a chyfle cyfartal i bawb. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gyflogi gweithlu sy'n adlewyrchu pob rhan o'r gymdeithas, a bydd y data mae gweithwyr yn ei rannu yn cael ei ddefnyddio i fonitro a gwerthuso i ba raddau yr ydym yn cwrdd â’r rhwymedigaethau hyn. Er mwyn ein cynorthwyo yn yr ymdrech hon, byddai'r cwmni yn gwerthfawrogi cefnogaeth a chydweithrediad pawb sy’n ymgeisio am swydd. Byddwn yn sicrhau bod ein harferion yn cydymffurfio â Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. Ni fydd unrhyw ymgeisydd am swydd neu weithiwr yn cael eu trin yn llai ffafriol yn enwedig ar sail rhyw, hil, cenedligrwydd, tarddiad ethnig, statws priodasol, beichiogrwydd a mamolaeth, anabledd, rhywioldeb, ailbennu rhywedd, oedran neu gred grefyddol. Mae'r wybodaeth a ddarperir ar y ffurflen hon yn cael ei chyflwyno’n ddienw er mwyn ei chadw'n gwbl gyfrinachol a chyfyngir ar y graddau y gellir defnyddio’r wybodaeth yn unol â'r Ddeddf Diogelu Data.
DD/MM/YYYY format
The Equality Act 2010 protects people who are disabled including those with long-term health conditions. A person is defined under the Act as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-today activities. Long-term is defined as having lasted or expected to last for at least 12 months. Adverse effects may arise from external barriers experienced by people with disabilities.

Mae Deddf Cydraddoldeb 2010 yn amddiffyn pobl sy'n anabl gan gynnwys rhai sydd â chyflyrau iechyd hirdymor. Mae unigolyn yn cael ei ddiffinio fel rhywun anabl dan y Ddeddf os oes ganddo nam corfforol neu feddyliol sy'n cael effaith andwyol sylweddol a hirdymor ac ar ei allu i gyflawni gweithgareddau arferol o ddydd i ddydd. Diffinnir 'hirdymor' fel effaith sy'n para neu y mae disgwyl iddi bara am o leiaf 12 mis. Gall effeithiau andwyol ddeillio o rwystrau allanol a brofir gan bobl ag anableddau.
People may experience more than one type of impairment, in which case you may indicate more than one. If none of the categories apply, please mark ‘other’.
Gall pobl brofi mwy nag un math o nam, ac os felly gallwch nodi mwy nag un. Os nad yw unrhyw un o’r categorïau’n berthnasol, nodwch ‘arall’.
If yes, please tick all that apply / Os oes, ticiwch bob un sy'n berthnasol
Please note, in some circumstances, a translation service will be used for that purpose.
Sylwch, mewn rhai amgylchiadau, bydd gwasanaeth cyfieithu yn cael ei ddefnyddio at y diben hwnnw.

Welsh Language Monitoring / Monitro'r Iaith Gymraeg

Welsh Language Standards 2016 (Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011)
In line with the requirements set out in our Welsh Language Standards 2016, the Company is required to collate information on the Welsh language skills. The Company would appreciate the support and co-operation of all job applicants in providing the following information.

Safonau’r Gymraeg 2016 (Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011)
Yn unol â'r gofynion a nodir yn ein Safonau Iaith Gymraeg 2016, mae'n ofynnol i'r Cwmni gasglu gwybodaeth am sgiliau iaith Gymraeg. Byddai'r Cwmni yn gwerthfawrogi cefnogaeth a chydweithrediad pob ymgeisydd am swydd wrth ddarparu'r wybodaeth ganlynol.

General Data Protection Regulation / Rheoliad Diogelu Data Cyffredinol

Any data about you will be held in secure conditions with access restrictions. Data will also be used for employment monitoring purposes however all data will be kept anonymous. If you are unsuccessful, your application will be destroyed after 6 months. If you are the successful candidate, relevant information will be taken from this form and used as part of your personal record. Please note that all personal data contained within this application form will be handled carefully and sensitively. All data is held securely, and access permissions are applied. More information can be found in our privacy policy.

I declare that the information contained in this application is complete and correct. I understand that, if I have knowingly provided false or incomplete information in my application, I may be disqualified or dismissed after appointment.

Bydd unrhyw ddata amdanoch chi yn cael ei gadw mewn amgylchiadau diogel gyda chyfyngiadau mynediad. Bydd data hefyd yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer dibenion monitro cyflogaeth ond bydd pob data yn cael ei gadw’n ddienw. Os nad ydych yn llwyddiannus, bydd eich cais yn cael ei ddinistrio ar ôl 6 mis. Os mai chi yw’r ymgeisydd llwyddiannus, bydd gwybodaeth berthnasol yn cael ei chymryd o’r ffurflen yma a’i defnyddio fel rhan o’ch cofnod personol. Noder y bydd yr holl ddata personol sydd wedi’i gynnwys yn y ffurflen gais hon yn cael ei drin yn ofalus ac yn sensitif. Cedwir yr holl ddata yn ddiogel, ac ni chaniateir mynediad heb ganiatâd. Mae mwy o wybodaeth ar gael yn ein polisi preifatrwydd.

Rwy’n datgan bod y wybodaeth yn y cais yma yn gyflawn ac yn gywir. Rwy’n deall os byddaf wedi cyflwyno gwybodaeth anghywir neu anghyflawn yn fy nghais bod modd anghymwyso neu fy niswyddo ar ôl fy mhenodi.
Please check through your application carefully to ensure that all required elements are complete. Note that the panel will not see your answers to the Equal Opportunities monitoring form, but we do require it to be completed as part of your application. It is your own responsibility to ensure that your application is complete and to check the application status regularly to verify that all elements have been submitted before the deadline.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form.

Gwiriwch drwy eich cais yn ofalus i sicrhau bod yr holl elfennau gofynnol yn gyflawn. Sylwch na fydd y panel yn gweld eich atebion i'r ffurflen monitro Cyfle Cyfartal, ond mae angen i ni ei chwblhau fel rhan o'ch cais. Eich cyfrifoldeb chi yw sicrhau bod eich cais yn gyflawn ac i wirio statws y cais yn rheolaidd i wirio bod yr holl elfennau wedi'u cyflwyno cyn y dyddiad cau.

Diolch am cwblhau’r ffurflen.
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