Opera Audition Requirements

Auditions for Fall 2013 admission will be held for singers and pianists.
All applicants must have an undergraduate degree.

All applicants must be available to come to Chicago for a live audition.

Live auditions are granted upon the review of pre-screening materials submitted with an application. 

Singers: Friday, January 18, 2013
Pianists: Saturday, January 19, 2013

Pre-Screening Audition Requirements

All applicants must apply to CCPA and submit pre-screening requirements via DecisionDesk by December 1, 2012.

All materials must be uploaded via DecisionDesk. DO NOT mail recordings or documents to CCPA.

Singers

• A recording of three contrasting selections from three different stylistic periods:
  • a minimum of two must be operatic arias all selections to be sung in the original language
  • a minimum of two languages being represented, one of which must be English
• A recent headshot
• An academic and professional (as appropriate) resumé
• A brief statement written by the applicant explaining why he/she is applying to this particular program, and what he/she hopes to gain from the experience (This will be submitted in the essay portion of the student's application to Roosevelt University.)
• An uploaded letter from the singer’s current voice teacher assessing the applicant’s current level of development and their career potential
• Two additional uploaded letters of recommendation from professionals or faculty with whom the applicant has worked

Pianists

• A recording of three selections:
  • One solo piano composition
  • Two contrasting operatic arias with singers from different stylistic periods
• An uploaded academic and professional (as appropriate) resumé
• A brief statement written by the applicant explaining why he/she is applying to this particular program, and what he/she hopes to gain from the experience (This will be submitted in the essay portion of the student's application to Roosevelt University.)
• An uploaded letter from the applicant’s current (most recent) teacher assessing the applicant’s current level of development and career potential
• Two additional uploaded letters of recommendation from professionals or faculty with whom the applicant has worked

Live Audition Requirements

Singers

Five contrasting selections in the original language, a minimum of four being operatic arias, to be performed from memory. These may include selections from the pre-screening audition.

• Four languages must be represented: Italian, French, German and English
• Four stylistic periods must be represented: Baroque (through Handel), Classical (through Rossini), Romantic/Post-Romantic (through Barber), and Modern

Pianists

One solo piano composition to be played from memory
The following five operatic selections to be played and sung:

• Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Act III No.19: Sextet “Riconosci in quest’amplesso” with preceding recitative
• Bizet: Carmen, Act III: the “card trio” “Mêlons, coupons”
• Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos, The Komponist’s aria: “Sein wir wieder gut” from the Prolog
• John Adams: The Death of Klinghoffer, Act I scene I: “It was just after one fifteen” through “slightly slower” after “makes intellect an animal”
• One additional selection of the applicant’s choice from 20th or 21st century repertoire

Live Audition Procedures and Expectations

All applicants, both singers and pianists, should be at an advanced level of technical ability. Singers should have a working knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and a firm grasp on at least one of the basic singing languages (in addition to English). Pianists should have competency in at least one of the basic singing languages (in addition to English) and some experience playing in vocal studios and operatic rehearsals and in following a conductor.

Singers

All singers will present an aria of their choice, and will be prepared to sing another from their list as requested by the audition panel. At the completion of the preliminary auditions, finalists will be announced and may be asked to remain for a final audition process. The final audition process will consist of an individual coaching, lesson, and a dramatic working session. Those selected to join the program will be notified by CCPA within a week after the final audition.

Proper audition attire is expected for the preliminary audition. Loose clothing and gym shoes that allow for movement should be worn for the dramatic portion of the finals. 

Pianists

Audition will consist of a one-hour session with the Head of the Program. In addition to the required selections, pianists will accompany a singer as in an audition situation, in an aria not previously assigned to the applicant, and will be asked to sight-read from an operatic piano-vocal score.