Professional Diploma in Opera
Designed for the career-oriented opera singer or pianist looking to join a company or production, this intensive one-year (three semester) program helps hones your audition skills and prepares young artists for professional opera opportunities.
Why Roosevelt for your Opera Program
Expert Training and Individualized Support
Students receive intensive, individualized instruction through weekly lessons and coachings with CCPA’s renowned voice and opera faculty (for singers) or collaborative piano (for pianists). The curriculum emphasizes audition preparation, with regular mock auditions before panels of industry professionals. Singers and pianists work closely together in a supportive, professional environment that mirrors the demands of the opera field, immersing students in a variety of performance formats, strengthening stage presence, communication, and readiness for the professional audition circuit.
Professional Development
The program is designed to bridge the gap between conservatory training and the professional world. Students receive tailored guidance in curating audition packages, personalized career planning, and they develop essential career materials, including résumés, headshots, bios, and digital portfolios. Additional offerings include voice-over technique, business skills for performing artists, and personal marketing/branding consultations. Participants have the opportunity to record high-quality pre-screen videos with CCPA’s in-house engineers in the acoustically stunning Ganz Hall.
Performance Opportunities
The Professional Diploma in Opera offers select performance and presentation experiences that build both artistry and professional confidence. These include:
- Songs@Six, a curated art song series presented in partnership with the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago
- Dramatic Coaching Culminating Project, showcasing students’ interpretive and theatrical growth
- Weekly Audition Seminars, offering live performance opportunities with real-time feedback from faculty and industry professionals
- CCPA Solo Competition and Aeolian Classics Competition, providing high-profile platforms for emerging artists
