

Opera Neo 2024 Season
Auditions for Singers
We are announcing LIVE and VIRTUAL auditions for our 2024 Season!
Singers can apply as:
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Apprentice Artists (typically emerging artists with professional experience) will sing leading and supporting roles, and sing in the ensemble.
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Studio Artists (typically college or graduate students with exceptional potential) will cover principal roles, may sing supporting roles, and will sing in the ensemble.
All artists (Apprentice and Studio) will receive a stipend and free housing in San Diego.
Age Limit: 35
Live Audition Information
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Chicago: Monday, September 18, 2023
Austin: Monday, September 25, 2023
New York: Monday, October 2, 2023
Boston: Monday, October 9, 2023
San Diego: Monday, October 16, 2023
(Virtual Auditions: Monday, September 25, 2023)
LIVE AUDITION LOCATIONS AND DATES:
Chicago: Saturday, October 7, 2023
New York: Saturday, October 21 & Monday, October 23, 2023
Boston: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Austin: Sunday, November 5, 2023
San Diego: Saturday, November 11, 2023
ROUND ONE: PRESCREENING MATERIALS REQUIRED
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Current Resume
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Current Headshot
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Two pre-screening video recordings (One selection from an eighteenth century opera, and one additional selection of your choice.)
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No Application Fee is required. An Audition Fee ($15 for virtual auditions, $39 for live auditions) will be required for all candidates who advance to Round Two.
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All applicants must either be citizens of the United States of America or authorized to legally work in the United States.
ROUND TWO: LIVE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND DETAILS:
Please prepare FOUR ARIAS to offer at your live audition:
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At least one aria should be selected from an eighteenth century opera.
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At least one aria must demonstrate your ability to sing up-tempo coloratura passages.
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One of the selections should be a Musical Theater piece, a cabaret song, or a light opera or operetta selection in English.
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Please include a solo recitativo example in your selections. If none of your arias includes a recitativo, please prepare a solo recitativo excerpt in addition to your four arias.
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Baroque repertoire is always welcome and encouraged, but not required.
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There are no additional language requirements.
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Please come casually dressed, no "audition outfits" please.
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A $39 Audition Fee is required for all candidates who are invited to a live audition.
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A pianist will be provided.
Bring selections that best showcase your personality and voice.
Round Three for both live and virtual applicants will be an online interview in December, 2023.
Virtual Audition Information
ROUND ONE:
Round One Deadline: September 25, 2023
Materials required for Round One:
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Current Resume
-
Current Headshot
-
Two pre-screening video recordings (One selection from an eighteenth century opera, and one additional selection of your choice.)
-
No Application Fee is required. An Audition Fee of $15 for virtual auditions will be required for all applicants who are invited to and choose to accept a Round Two audition.
If you are selected to advance to Round Two, you will be notified by October 16, 2023.
There are NO requirements to make new recordings (if you have an existing recording of selections from the past 12 months you may submit it), and there are NO requirements to record all selections back-to-back or in one take.
ROUND TWO:
Round Two Deadline: November 6, 2023
Finalists advancing to the Round Three will be notified by November 20, 2023
Please prepare to submit video recordings of the four selections you listed.
Your selections must include the following:
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At least one aria should be selected from an eighteenth century opera.
-
At least one aria must demonstrate your ability to sing up-tempo coloratura passages.
-
One of the selections should be a Musical Theater piece, a cabaret song, or a light opera or operetta selection in English.
-
Please include a solo recitativo example in your selections. If none of your arias includes a recitativo, please prepare a solo recitativo excerpt in addition to your four arias.
-
Baroque repertoire is always welcome and encouraged, but not required.
-
There are no additional language requirements.
-
If you are making a recording specifically for Opera Neo, casual dress is encouraged, otherwise there is no dress code for the recordings.
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A $15 Audition Fee is required for all candidates who advance to Round Two and choose to accept their audition.
Offer selections that best showcase your personality and voice.
ROUND THREE:
Round Three will consist of individual Zoom interviews (no singing).
Interviews will take place between November 15 and December 15, 2023.
Auditions for Apprentice Conductors, Pianists/Coaches, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors
All interviews for Apprentice Conductors, Pianists/Coaches, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors are virtual.
All artists will receive a fee and free housing in San Diego.
Audition Information
The virtual interview process for Apprentice Conductors, Pianists/Coaches, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors will take place in two rounds.
We are accepting applications for:
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2 apprentice stage director/assistant director positions
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1 apprentice conductor/assistant conductor position
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1 apprentice pianist/coach position
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2 apprentice stage manager positions
ROUND ONE:
Round One Deadline: October 9, 2023
Materials required for Round One:
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For Apprentice Conductors, video recordings of:
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You conducting an instrumental ensemble/orchestra (12 people or more) in a concert or rehearsal from the past 3 years (Up to 15 min.)
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You conducting a vocal soloist or small ensemble of up to six singers with a piano or instrumental ensemble/orchestra rehearsing or performing an aria or operatic ensemble from the past two years. (Up to 15 min.)
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For Apprentice Pianists/Coaches, a video recording of you accompanying a singer in a concert or rehearsal. (Up to 15 min.)
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For Apprentice Stage Directors, a video recording (excerpt) of your original staging from the past three years (Performance or rehearsal video is ok. Up to 15 min.)
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For Apprentice Stage Managers no video recordings are required.
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No Application Fee is required. An Audition Fee of $15 for virtual auditions will be required for all applicants who are invited to and choose to accept a Round Two audition/interview.
If you are selected to advance to Round Two, we will contact you by November 1, 2023 to schedule a Zoom interview in November or December 2023.
ROUND TWO:
If you advance to Round Two we’ll give you instructions via email at that time on how to prepare for your interview.