Nashville Opera's Mary Ragland Emerging Artists: Apply by October 28th!
Nashville Opera's Mary Ragland Emerging Artist program, founded in 1996, is a cornerstone of the company's commitment to fostering the next generation of opera singers. Named after the company's founder, Metropolitan Opera singer Mary Ragland, the program features five up-and-coming artists each season (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Pianist).
Nashville Opera was founded in 1981 and we're proud to be a part of the cultural fabric of Music City. Nashville is much more than cowboy boots and bachelorette parties. We're home to a thriving arts community that includes the Nashville Symphony, Nashville Ballet, and Nashville Repertory Theatre. You'll be surrounded by the natural beauty of Middle Tennessee and, yes, close to the neon honky tonks of Lower Broadway as an Emerging Artist. We invite you to apply to become a member of our Nashville Opera family.
The 2026 Emerging Artists will perform comprimario and lead roles in the mainstage season productions of Jason Powell’s Fortuna the Time Bender vs. The Schoolgirls of Doom, and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Roles to include: Sandy (Soprano, Fortuna), Berta (Soprano, Barber), Candy (Mezzo-soprano, Fortuna), Police Sergeant (Tenor, Barber), Fiorello (Baritone, Barber).
They will also be featured in lead roles in the spring education tour production (TBD) and various recital and concert appearances. Cover roles are also available for The Barber of Seville.
The accompanist serves as the Tour Coordinator for the education tour production, and is the accompanist for the education performances, in addition to being the rehearsal pianist for the mainstage production of The Barber of Seville.
This season we will also be providing the Mezzo-Soprano Emerging Artist with an accompanying 3-week Arts Administration Internship during the Barber of Seville portion of the program. We will only be offering this to the Mezzo-Soprano Emerging Artist at this time. If applying to the Mezzo-Soprano role, please be prepared to submit a separate resume with work experience in addition to a performance resume. Duties to possibly include (depending on the Mezzo’s interests/skills):
· Training on Tessitura
· Accessibility training through Vanderbilt’s TRIAD program
· Working in all departments and having exclusive insider access
· Attending staff meetings and providing an MREA report
· Support for Arts Advocacy Day
· Data collection for Education Tour Report
· Assistance with leading HBCU Fellowship activities
· Social Media content creation
· Shadowing the supertitles process for Barber of Seville
Mary Ragland Emerging Artist singers will receive a weekly stipend of $500, as well as provided local housing in a shared Airbnb, and a one-time travel reimbursement of $250. Singers also receive eight weekly coachings with Nashville Opera’s chorusmaster. All singers will be featured on at least one masterclass an esteemed clinician, and one coaching session with that clinician as well.
Mary Ragland Emerging Artist accompanist receives a weekly stipend of $600 in addition to the provided housing and travel reimbursement detailed above.
All MREAs will have covers in place who will be able to step in during education tour in case of illness/conflicts. MREAs will also have access to Noah Liff Opera Center to be able to have extra rehearsals, utilize practice rooms, be able to film audition tapes, etc.
