CHAUTAUQUA OPERA performs on the grounds of the 750-acre Chautauqua Institution – a center for arts, education, religion, and recreation. The Chautauqua community is located in Western New York State near Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. Nearly 150,000 residents and visitors attend opera, symphony, theater, and dance performances, summer school courses, ecumenical religious programs, lectures, and traditional lakeside summer recreational activities on a daily basis during the nine-week summer season. 2016 marks the 142nd year of the Chautauqua Institution and the 88th season of Chautauqua Opera. Chautauqua Opera is the oldest continuously operating summer opera company in the United States and has a longstanding tradition of performing opera in English. Performances take place in both the Chautauqua Institution’s historical 4,000-seat Amphitheater and in the 1,300-seat art deco Norton Hall, built in 1929 specifically for the company. All productions feature leading American artists from major companies around the world. Repertory for the 2016 season includes Verdi’s La Traviata, directed by Keturah Stickann, in the Amphitheater and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, directed by Ned Canty, in Norton Hall. Young Artists will arrive in early June, 2016 and continue into mid August. Please check our website in the coming weeks for exact dates and further information.

All Norton Hall repertoire is sung in English

Please observe the following guidelines:

1. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or have the proper permits to work and/or study in the United States. A copy of appropriate documentation must be submitted with your application.

2. If applicant has already completed six roles under an AGMA contract or two AGMA apprenticeships, s/he is ineligible for the Chautauqua Opera Young Artist Program.

3. Applicant should be between the ages of 21 and 35 years of age as of December 31, 2015. Younger singers should have completed their senior year of undergraduate studies as of June 2016.

4. Applicant is required to submit a completed application, resume, photo, audio recordings of two contrasting arias (one in English), and a non-refundable processing fee of $35.00.

5. The electronic application must be completed by 6pm on Thursday, October 1, 2015. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Application due on Tuesday, October 1, 2015

New York City Audition Dates: November 17, 18, 19, 21, & 22

December 1, 2, 3, 5, & 6 Applicants must be available for at least two of these dates.

APPLICATION AVAILABLE AT

YAPTracker.Com

Chautauqua Opera’s 2015 production of Macbeth

in the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater (Photo: courtesy of Roger Coda)

Chautauqua Opera Company Young Artist Program

2016 Season

Steven Osgood Carol Rausch General/Artistic Director Music Administrator/Chorus Master

Questions? Email: auditions@chautopera.org Phone: 212-779-3177

THE CHAUTAUQUA OPERA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Established in 1968, the Young Artist Program is now under the supervision of conductor Steven R. Osgood, General/Artistic Director of Chautauqua Opera, and Carol Rausch, Music Administrator/Chorus Master. It is recognized as one of the best training programs for young singers in America today with many performing opportunities during the season. The program has seen over 1,500 artists benefit from this professional training experience, including Keri Alkema, Elizabeth Baldwin, Elizabeth Batton, David Crawford, Brian Davis, Adam Diegel, Ruth Falcon, Jeffrey Hallili, Joshua Hopkins, Peter Kazaras, Daniela Mack, Celena Nelson, Julie Newell, Derrick Parker, David Portillo, Vale Rideout, Hugh Russell, Deborah Selig, Jane Shaulis, Marietta Simpson, Stephanie Sundine, Renée Tatum and Todd Thomas.These alumni and more have sung in houses all over the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera and Seattle Opera.

Chautauqua Opera’s 2015 production of EUGENE ONEGIN in Norton Hall There are two sections of the Young Artists Program:

APPRENTICE ARTISTS sing or cover leading, supporting and/or comprimario roles in mainstage productions, concertize with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and perform at outreach performances under the auspices of an American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Apprenticeship contract.

STUDIO ARTISTS perform in musical theater revues, art song recitals, and a program of opera scenes; they may also be assigned cover or comprimario roles in the mainstage productions, and are hired under an Institution contract.

ALL YOUNG ARTISTS receive extensive musical coaching from a nationally recognized coaching staff drawn from the finest opera houses, conservatories and universities.

(Photo: Roger Coda)

Chautauqua Opera’s 2015 production of MACBETH

2014 Apprentice and Studio Artists perform in the Pops Concert with the Chautauqua

2015 Chautauqua Opera Company Apprentice and Studio Artists

(Photo: Roger Coda)

All Young Artists attend classes in movement, combat, makeup, acting, and appear in the chorus of the mainstage productions. Young Artists also have many opportunities to participate in master classes given by distinguished artists, agents, and voice teachers. Recent clinicians have included Laura Lee Everett, Dale Girard, Peter Kazaras, Marlena Malas, Patricia Misslin, Gayletha Nichols, Gordon Ostrowski, Craig Rutenberg and Brian Zeger. Housing, a weekly stipend, and a travel allowance are provided for all Young Artists. Approximately twenty-seven singers are chosen each summer.

2014 Young Artists in the Family-Friendly Opera Revue “Alice and Alex in Operaland”