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 the 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.
Students receive regular performance opportunities at the Chicago Opera Theater, including covering roles, chorus participation and consideration for principal roles. There are also targeted coaching and networking opportunities with composers, librettists, conductors and directors from outside of Chicago who are brought in for COT activities.
Professional Development
Students participate in sessions on “business/life” topics like taxes, engagement with donors, managers/agents, industry experts, websites/resumes and personal marketing. The Chicago Opera Theater also hosts occasional donor-focused events where students are coached on how to engage a room of donors.
Comprehensive Arts Education
In addition to vocal training CCPA classes offer students a well-rounded arts education that includes languages, movement, acrobatics, puppetry and other theatrical skill trainings.
Admission Info
SAMPLE COURSES
Career Opportunities
Admission Info
Location: Chicago Start Term: Fall
Pre-Screening Audition Requirements
All applicants must apply to CCPA and submit pre-screening requirements via Acceptd by December 1.
All materials must be uploaded via Acceptd. DO NOT mail recordings or documents to CCPA.
Singers
A recording of three operatic arias (no art song or oratorio)
A minimum of two languages represented, one of which MUST be English
One aria must be contemporary
All recordings must have been made within the last 6 months, one of which must be a video
A recent headshot
An academic and professional résumé
Two letters of recommendation will be required within your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. One should be from your current voice teacher assessing your current level of development and career potential. The other should be from a professional or faculty with whom you have recently worked and that address your professionalism and musical and dramatic abilities.
A statement by the applicant as to why they are applying specifically to this particular program.
Pianists
Recordings (video or audio) of the following (one of which must be a video):
One complete work for solo piano
Two operatic selections (arias and/or scenes/ensembles) of contrasting periods and styles (one of which must be contemporary) performed with singers
All recordings must have been made within the last 6 months
A recent headshot
An academic and professional résumé
Two letters of recommendation will be required with your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. One will be from your current teacher assessing your current level of development and career potential. The other will be from a professional or faculty with whom you have recently worked and that address your musical abilities and professionalism.
A statement by the applicant as to why they are applying specifically to this particular program
Live Audition Requirements
Singers
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.
A minimum of three languages represented, one of which MUST be English
At least three stylistic periods must be represented, including contemporary which is mandatory: Baroque (through Handel), Classical (through Rossini), Romantic/Post-Romantic (through Barber)
Pianists
All excerpts below must be played and sung in the original language.
One relatively brief work for solo piano
Mozart, Don Giovanni - Opening of Act I (through Don Ottavio and Donna Anna's duet)
Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos - Composer's aria "sein wir wieder gut" (ending after "die heilige Musik")
Adams, The Death of Klinghoffer - Act I scene I ("it was just after one fifteen" through "slightly slower" after "makes intellect an animal")
It is expected that all pianist applicants have a working knowledge of English, Italian, German and French diction for singers.
Live Audition Procedures and Expectations
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.
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