Professional Diploma in Opera in conjunction with the Chicago Opera Theater

• 2-year Full-tuition scholarship program

• Membership in Chicago Opera Theater's Young Artist Program each spring

• Lessons, coachings and seminars with CCPA Faculty

Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and Chicago Opera Theater (COT) offer a two-year Professional Diploma Program that couples advanced training with full scholarship support at CCPA and professional experience as a Young Artist at COT.

Under the guidance of the program's director, Scott Gilmore, singers and pianists selected for the program receive full scholarships from the college, plus a weekly stipend from COT during its season. The program is designed for post-graduate students specializing in opera, but may include some post-undergraduate students of exceptional ability. The program runs concurrently with the fall and spring semesters at CCPA, extending into the COT season.

Singers admitted to the program will receive four semesters of weekly individual voice lessons and twice-weekly coaching with CCPA's professional faculty. Pianists will accompany lessons and rehearsals, and also receive weekly coaching. Additional seminars on various topics concerning the profession are conducted throughout the year, and both master classes and performance classes are scheduled to help singers prepare for auditions. On-campus performance opportunities include roles in fully-staged CCPA operas with orchestra. Contract performances with COT may also include recitals, outreach and concert events throughout the year.

At the end of the spring semester, participants become young artists at COT. They will cover roles, sing in the mainstage ensemble, participate in performances with piano of each opera, master classes, recitals, and outreach presentations. Pianists will play some rehearsals, master classes, and assist in various capacities.

About Chicago Opera Theater

Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its mainstage performances, community engagement, education programs in Chicago Public Schools, as well as its renowned Young Artist Program. Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and critically acclaimed.   The Chicago Tribune says “Chicago Opera Theater is on a roll. The company's splendid, adventuresome shows continue to prove that the spirit of operatic adventure is alive and well at the Harris Theater." The Chicago Reader calls COT “Chicago’s most interesting opera company.”

The Chicago Opera Theater Young Artists Program (COTYAP) is a performance-based training program for young singers. The intention is to provide an artistic benchmark for young artists as they commence their careers, recognizing performance experience in fresh stagings of standard and new repertoire as an essential training element. Members of COTYAP are engaged for an intensive program during which each performs in the Season as a soloist or member of the ensemble. Young Artists may also understudy or cover principal roles. Understudies prepare their roles with music staff and covers may have the opportunity to perform portions of the role for an invited audience. 

Young Artists receive individual coaching from COT Director of Musical Studies Scott Gilmore, and take part in master classes with coaches, conductors and teachers. Featured guests have included Craig Rutenberg, Jane Glover, Samuel Ramey, Frederica Von Stade, Nancy Gustafson, Timothy Noble, Suzanne Mentzer, and Robin Leggate. Career development seminars are offered in audition techniques and in the non-performance aspects of a career in singing.

For more information about Chicago Opera Theater, visit: www.chicagooperatheater.org

Application Procedure

Note: a Master of Music degree in voice is preferred for entrance to this program. A Bachelor of Music degree in voice is required for entrance to this program.

Applicants must submit pre-screening documents by December 1, 2011 via email. 
 
Singers must submit

• Headshot
• Resume
• 2 letters of recommendation:
  • 1 from your current teacher,
  • 1  from a coach, conductor or director
• A brief statement answering the following questions:    
  • -Why do you seek admission to this particular program?    
  • -What do you hope to achieve during your time in this program?
• A recording of two contrasting arias, uploaded here. DO NOT mail cds to the admissions office.

Next, await our invitation to the live auditions.

Invitations will be sent in December, and if invited, you must apply to Roosevelt University no later than January 1, 2012.

Invited applicants who have not applied by January 1 automatically forfeit their invitation.

For our live audition in Chicago: Required repertoire will be:

SINGERS:

• four arias, in their original language. These languages and periods must be represented, in any combination:
  • Languages: English, French, German and Italian
  • Period: Baroque (through Handel), Classical (through Rossini), Romantic/post-Romantic (through Strauss, Barber, etc), Modern
• Singers will audition in the morning, and must be available for possible follow-up sessions in the afternoon.