Opera Neo 2023 Season
Auditions for the 2023 season are closed. Please check back for information about auditions for the 2024 in August.
Auditions for Singers
(For audition information for Apprentice Conductors, Pianists/Coaches, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors please scroll down!)
We are announcing LIVE and VIRTUAL auditions for our 2023 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: Thursday, September 15, 2022
New York: Thursday, September 15, 2022
Boston: Thursday, September 15, 2022
San Diego: Monday, October 1, 2022
Austin: Monday, October 1, 2022
Recorded Auditions: Monday, October 1, 2022
MATERIALS REQUIRED
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Current Resume
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Current Headshot
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Two pre-screening 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, $35 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.
LIVE AUDITION LOCATIONS AND DATES:
Chicago: Saturday, October 1, 2022
San Diego: Saturday, October 8, 2022
New York: Monday, October 17, 2022
Boston: Saturday, October 22, 2022
Austin: Friday, October 28, 2022
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS AND DETAILS:
Live auditions will only be granted to applicants who are fully vaccinated, and present a negative COVID-19 rapid test result, taken within 24 hours of the the audition time.
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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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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At least one aria demonstrating your ability to sing coloratura passages
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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" necessary.
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A $35 Audition Fee is required for all candidates who are invited a live audition.
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A pianist will be provided.
Bring selections that best showcase your personality and voice.
Round Three for all applicants, live and virtual, will be an online interview in December, 2022.
Virtual Audition Information
The virtual audition process for singers will be conducted in three rounds.
ROUND ONE:
Round One Deadline: October 1, 2022
Materials required for Round One:
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Video Recordings of two contrasting operatic arias (One selection must be from an eighteenth century opera)
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A list of additional 4 arias that you are prepared to present, if selected for Round Two
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Your Round Two audition selections should include:
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At least one aria from an eighteenth century opera
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A recitative (either as part of one of your arias, or as a separate selection)
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A musical theater piece, cabaret song, or light opera/operetta selection in English
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At least one aria demonstrating your ability to sing coloratura passages
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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.
If you are selected to advance to Round Two, you will be notified by October 15, 2022.
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 1, 2022
Finalists advancing to the Round Three will be notified by November 15, 2022
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
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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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At least one aria demonstrating your ability to sing up-tempo coloratura passages.
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There are no additional language requirements.
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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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Live piano accompaniment, pre-recorded accompaniment, as well as using apps such as "Appcompanist" are all acceptable.
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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, 2022.
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 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.
There are open spots for:
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2 apprentice stage director/assistant director candidates
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1 apprentice conductor/assistant conductor candidate
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1 apprentice pianist/coach candidate
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2 apprentice stage manager candidates
ROUND ONE:
Round One Deadline: October 1, 2022
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 performing as either as an accompanist or a soloist 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.
If you are selected to advance to Round Two, we will contact you by November 15, 2022 to schedule a Zoom interview in November or December 2022.
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.