
The Professional Diploma in Opera Program offers singers and pianists of exceptional career promise two years of continued guidance in their development as artists. With the support of a full-tuition scholarship and monthly stipend, participants receive weekly voice lessons, vocal and dramatic coaching, seminars, and performance classes concentrating on audition preparation with CCPA’s illustrious faculty. Diplomatists are also Young Artists with Chicago Opera Theater, where they participate on a per production basis as ensemble members and soloists, engage with COT artists in master classes, and perform outreach.
This Professional Diploma program allows young artists to continue to grow in a conservatory environment with the support of a full-tuition scholarship and monthly stipend while receiving the benefit of professional experience with the Chicago Opera Theater.
COT Young Artists appear in the ensemble, with the potential of covering and performing roles, and participate in master classes and individual coaching. In addition to this connection, CCPA Diploma students present various outreach and publicity performances for COT. More information may be found on Chicago Opera Theater's website.
This program is a unique opportunity for the developing artist who has acquired basic skills to focus on all areas of their artistic growth, affording them professional experience, particularly in the development and performance of innovative new work, while supporting them with weekly voice lessons, vocal coaching and dramatic training.
Young Artists receive voice lessons, coachings, and text work on a weekly basis through the faculty at Roosevelt/CCPA. The scholarship award for the Professional Diploma in Opera grants full tuition with the exception of the Graduate General Fee, Student Activity Fee, and CTA Ventra U-Pass Fee.
All applicants must apply to CCPA and submit pre-screening requirements via GetAcceptd: December 1.
All materials must be uploaded via Acceptd. DO NOT mail recordings or documents to CCPA.
Four contrasting operatic arias in the original language (no oratorio), to be performed from memory. These may include selections from the pre-screening audition if you wish.
All excerpts below must be played and sung in the original language.
All applicants must 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). They should also have experience working with directors and be comfortable onstage. Singers and pianists must provide 3 copies of their repertoire list and 3 copies of their résumé to their live audition.
All singers will present an aria of their choice, and will be prepared to sing additional selections from their list as requested by the audition panel. Pianists will be scheduled for a session to go through the required audition material. In addition to this, those auditioning may be asked for a working session with members of the audition panel.
Proper audition attire is expected for the audition.