National Opera Studio's Young Artists’ Programme: deadline November 24, 2024!

"My time as a young singer at the National Opera Studio was so important because it set me upon with a work ethic which I have carried with me throughout my career. We were lucky enough to work with great singers, directors, conductors and coaches and as well as discovering new and exciting repertoire, we learned to perform not only as a soloist but also as part of an ensemble." ~ Susan Bullock CBE, soprano (1984/85 alum)

"My time at the National Opera Studio proved to be an invaluable springboard into the profession. Working directly with pillars of the opera business helped equip me for what was to come." ~ Nicky Spence, tenor (2009/10 alum)

"Having been a performer for over 40 years, I can honestly say there is no better place I would have wanted to be at that stage of my career." ~ Della Jones, mezzo-soprano and NOS coach

The National Opera Studio’s Young Artists’ Programme supports singers and pianists with all the musical, artistic, physical, psychological and practical skills they need to survive in a long, successful career in opera. 

• 9-month training programme based at our home in Wandsworth, London.
• Partnerships with the six national opera companies offer high-level opportunities, performances, residencies and networks.
• Opportunities for auditions with industry professionals available year-round.
• Health and well-being are fundamental in everything we teach
• Our Sounding Board panel of professional opera singers ensures our work is always relevant and effective.

Funding

• Young Artists (YAs) receive free training.
• YAs are granted a monthly performance stipend of £850.
• Additional bursary support is provided to assist with basic living and study expenses in London, amounting to up to £770 per month.
• £600 to use for private lessons and auditions.
• An Auditions Travel Fund is available, offering a one-time payment of up to £260 during the Studio year or one year post-programme.

A year at the National Opera Studio
A standard year at the National Opera Studio runs from September to June and includes:

Regular coaching from over 30 coaches in various disciplines

• Including music and vocal training, language, movement, stagecraft, and resilience.
• This comprehensive support is carefully tailored to meet the individual needs of each Young Artist.
• Our Young Artists also work with our Sounding Board members, Susan Bullock CBE, Gerald Finley OC CBE, Elizabeth Llewellyn MBE, Marie McLaughlin, Brindley Sherratt and Nicky Spence OBE.
• To complement our music, stagecraft and language coaching, we also offer our Young Artists sessions in resilience throughout the year. These can include one to one meetings with our Elite Performance Coach, Cliodhna O’Connor, talks about nutrition and vocal health, or advice on websites and personal branding. We are proud to offer these sessions as part of our training programme, as they are crucial to developing the whole artist, and this holistic training sets singers and repetiteurs up both to succeed and thrive.

3-4 orchestral residencies with our partner companies

• The Royal Ballet and Opera, English National Opera, Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, and Glyndebourne.
• These residencies provide an exceptional opportunity to rehearse and perform at the home venues of these leading organisations, allowing Young Artists to gain invaluable experience while benefiting from the mentorship and guidance of each company.

At least 10 performances across London

• Each residency culminates in a London performance, accompanied by piano, where industry guests are invited to attend and observe their work.
• Young Artists also have the opportunity to meet and perform for supporters of the National Opera Studioat prominent London venues and within the Studio itself.

4 masterclasses

• Including one at the Royal Ballet and Opera
• Regular ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q&A sessions with guest artists and coaches

Repetiteur residencies

• Our Young Artist repetiteurs will have the opportunity to spend a few days with Scottish Opera separate to the group residency. Repetiteurs will have the opportunity to shadow the Head of Music or Music Staff during their work on productions.

Lunchtime recitals

• Monthly lunchtime recitals held at the Studio and livestreamed online. Young Artists have the opportunity to collaborate with other Young Artists to curate their own recital programmes, assisted by Senior Staff Coach, Allyson Devenish. Each Young Artist is required to include a piece of contemporary repertoire in their performance.

Filming Days

• Roughly every month, we schedule Filming Days. These are opportunities for you to create high-quality digital content that you can use for your audition packages, website, and social media. These sessions are managed by an NOS AV technician and utilize our state-of-the-art multi-camera setup.