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2009-2010 Emerging artists have been chosen

Click below to download the 2010-2011 Emerging Artist Brochure and Application form:

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Auditions normally take place in late fall

Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Development Program is designed for pre-professional singers at the Masters or post-graduate level who are Canadian citizens, have finished their initial training at a University or Conservatory, and are seeking further essential skills to enable them to establish a professional operatic singing career.

The Emerging Artist Development Program provides up to eight young singers with the opportunity to study and perform under a highly prestigious staff of teachers and performers. The Emerging Artist Development Program is intended to benefit Canadian singers who have completed advanced or graduate-level training at a music school, conservatory or university opera program.

It serves as a bridge between academic programs and the professional world of opera, offering the experience and practical skills necessary to become a self-employed professional in a highly competitive international environment.

Interaction between visiting artists, a resident faculty, and the Emerging Artists is an integral professional training function throughout the seven-month-long (mid-October to April) program.

Voice Principal Coach and Resident Conductor: Gordon Gerrard

Voice Specialist for 2009-2010: Wendy Nielsen will teach a multi-week residency throughout the program.

Visiting Guest Artists will offer masterclasses, private lessons and workshops during the season. Guest artists in past years have included:

Singers and Teaches: Margaret Lattimore, Tracy Dahl, Gaétan Laperrière, Brett Polegato, John Fanning, Matthew Chellis, Kimberly Barber, Elizabeth Turnbull, Marc Hervieux, Selena James, David Pomeroy, and Michelle Capalbo.

Stage Directors: Glynis Leyshon, Rob Herriot, Kelly Robinson, Ann Hodges, and Vanessa Porteous.

Conductors: Robert Dean, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Hal France, and Bramwell Tovey.

Coaches: John Hess, Don Tarnawski, Stuart Hamilton, and Michael McMahon.

Special classes which focus on topics such as audition techniques, career promotion, public relations / marketing, media skills and agent representation are conducted by the staff and management of Calgary Opera along with other experts in the field.

The focus of the training culminates in fully staged public productions with orchestra of one-act operas presented in the intimate setting of the Arrata Opera Centre and tailored to the Emerging Artists. Productions in past seasons have included La Divina by Thomas Pasatieri, Le portrait de Manon by Jules Massenet and L’enfant et les sortileges by Maurice Ravel.

Based upon one’s level of ability, Emerging Artists are assigned supporting roles in Calgary Opera mainstage productions. Additional performance experience includes principal roles in Opera in Schools tours, study/cover assignments in mainstage productions, recitals, and community outreach events.

Please, contact Mel Kirby for Information on applications and deadlines.

The program is under the aegis of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and all ensemble members will be or will become members of Equity in the process and receive a weekly Equity approved stipend.