RE- Auditions for the 2018 Young Artist Program Information Pack
ABOUT PACIFIC OPERA Pacific Opera nurtures, builds confidence, teaches skills, gives reality checks, improves musicality, builds stamina, conquers shyness, instils professionalism, opens minds to new possibilities, provides experience, builds resilience and changes lives. Pacific Opera was founded in 2003 by Christine Douglas, and has proven to be the launching pad for many young artists who have gone on to successful careers, earning prizes and plaudits, and securing placements with major opera companies in Australia and overseas. Our young artists participate in an intensive performance schedule including masterclasses, staged scenes, concerts and recitals. Read on to find out how you might fit into the Pacific Opera Family.
SIMON KENWAY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR In 2015, Pacific Opera was delighted to welcome Simon Kenway as the company s Artistic Director. Simon is an acclaimed pianist and conductor and is very well known in the Australian opera community as a conductor and vocal coach. Read more about Simon here. CHRISTINE DOUGLAS FOUNDER Christine was the founding Artistic Director of Pacific Opera, and is now the Vice Chair of the Board. As a former Principal Soprano with Opera Australia, Christine now teaches singing and directs opera. Christine lends her expertise to the Young Artist program in the form of giving direction and teaching stagecraft. Read more about Christine here.
What you can expect from our Young Artist Program We support and develop young opera singers and are dedicated to readying you for real jobs in the industry. There is no more inspiring way for you to learn the finer points of the operatic craft than to have the direct and personal guidance of the stars of the opera stage. Masterclasses are given by such internationally acclaimed stars as Lauris Elms AM OBE, Deborah Humble, Jose Carbo, Amelia Farrugia, Peter Coleman-Wright AO, Cheryl Barker AO, and Chuck Hudson. Receive regular and tailored vocal coaching sessions with Simon Kenway, exploring appropriate repertoire, setting new goals and refining your singing. Sing for important figures in the industry at masterclasses facilitated by Pacific Opera.
Meet opera royalty and make valuable connections in the industry at Pacific Opera functions. Get to grips with movement and stagecraft in specialised workshops with acting, movement and stagecraft experts such as Christine Douglas. Learn the finer detail of performing in the languages in intensive language masterclasses given by renowned coaches, Nicole Dorigo and Renee Goossens. Polish your professional image with classes in music business, marketing, hair, makeup, style and industry networking with facilitators such as Annette Brown, Jacqui Smith, Pamela Andrews, Anke Timm and Rachel Dal Santo.
What s booked for 2018? Last Night of the Proms You will be performing with conductor Nicholas Milton and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra in August. Read a review of our 2017 performance. Utzon Room Recitals You may be chosen to sing in a recital in the exclusive Utzon Room overlooking the harbour in the Sydney Opera House in June or December. Canberra Opera Gala You may be chosen to head on the road with our team and sing in an exciting gala opera concert with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra in July. Staged Scenes You will have the opportunity to perform a leading role in acting and ensemble work with Christine Douglas, including Mozart s The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, Gluck s Orfeo, and extracts from Rossini. performed in unique and intimate spaces. See our previous productions here.
Concerts and Private Gigs You will be performing in Pacific Opera concerts, and entertaining guests of Pacific Opera clients at small, exclusive functions. You ll also be singing at our major fundraising event for the year, the glamorous Pacific Opera Gala. Workshops and Masterclasses In 2018, we are hoping to work with artists including Deborah Humble, Nicole Dorigo, Christine Douglas, Renee Goossens, Dr Erin Helyard, and Opera Australia, The program will be run during intensive weeks throughout the year. That means that, as a Young Artist, you can expect to have at least one full-on week per month with Pacific Opera, covering masterclasses, workshops, rehearsals for performances. Once the dates have been locked in, the onus will be on you to ensure that you are professional in your commitment to the program, and we do expect you to keep your schedule clear in these designated weeks. We take attendance and punctuality very seriously at Pacific Opera. You can t miss a rehearsal because you forgot or double-booked yourself when you re working as a professional opera singer, so we aim to instil this level of professionalism right from the beginning..
We have the support of the industry, and our artists are making their mark in opera houses around the world Opera Australia has relied on the pipeline created by Pacific Opera over many years.. In fact, many of the members of the current Opera Australia company are alumni of Pacific Opera. They include: Eva Kong, Jane Ede, Sian Pendry, Anna Yun, Adrian Tamburini, Celeste Lazarenko, Martin Buckingham, Christopher Hillier, Leah Thomas, Zoe Drummond, James Olds, Phoebe Humphreys, Jared Lillehagen and many more.. Craig Hassall, AM Recently, the Sydney Opera House has developed an emerging artists program as part of its new Performing Arts Strategy. The program builds relationships with institutions such as Pacific Opera and will provide a public performance platform for the next generation of Australian performing artists. The Opera House is enthusiastic to see Pacific Opera continue to flourish and to provide budding operatic talent. Timothy Calnin Former Director, Performing Arts Sydney Opera House
What we don t have is you! As a Young Artist at Pacific Opera, you will be: A graduate of a tertiary music institution, or an exceptionally gifted singer at the same standard An energetic, hard-working and motivated young singer who considers themselves to be emerging artists at time of application (no age limit) Able to be primarily based in Sydney from February-October 2018 Genuine in your desire to make the most of the Program and be completely professional in the way you conduct yourself Audition Requirements In 2018, we will be accepting up to 15 Young or Associate Artists in our Program. Entry to the Program is by audition, and feedback will be provided to singers upon request. Positions in the Program are provided on a scholarship basis, so you don t have to pay to be involved. The audition fee is $50, and is payable by cash or cheque on the day. We will provide an excellent accompanist for you., and you will need to bring at least three arias, preferably one in English. Read more here. To book an audition: Contact Anne Chivas auditions@pacificopera.com.au www.pacificopera.com.au
The alumni of our Young Artist Program have gone on to achieve many great things... EVA KONG Eva is currently a Moffat Oxenbauld Young Artist with Opera Australia, and since 2010 has performed chorus and study roles, covering Norina in Don Pasquale, High Priestess in Aida (Handa Opera on the Harbour), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Gilda in Rigoletto, Gianetta in The Elixir of Love (covering Adina), Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, and this year sang Liù in Turandot for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Laura in Luisa Miller and Princess Linetta in The Love for Three Oranges. In 2017, she appeared in Parsifal alongside Jonas Kaufmann, and sang the sopranos solos in Carmina Burana for the Melbourne Symphony. Eva has also performed Madame Mao in Nixon in China to great acclaim with Victorian State Opera, a role she reprised this year for The Nixon Tapes. EMILY EDMONDS Emily joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at Covent Garden in 2015. In her first season, her roles included Third Grace/Third Fate (Orpheus) at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare s Globe, Alms Sister (Suor Angelica) and Käthchen (Werther) on the main stage and in the world premiere of 4.48 Psychosis in the Lyric Hammersmith. Her roles in the 2016/17 Season included Singer and Musician (Manon Lescaut), Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) and Tebaldo (Don Carlo) for The Royal Opera and in Les Enfants Terribles for The Royal Ballet. Operatic engagements included Asteria (Bajazet) for Pinchgut Opera, Kate Julian (Owen Wingrave) and roles in Through the Gates and the Australian premiere of Into the Little Hill for Sydney Chamber Opera.
they encourage you to work hard and follow in their footsteps What I found in Australia was, it was very difficult for artists to develop as a soloist because there are so few opportunities. A number of people begin at the conservatoriums and there's very little in between until they have the opportunity perhaps to work at Opera Australia and many times that is in the chorus. So, what I found so vital about my time in Australia was being involved somewhere like Pacific Opera where I could learn a craft on a stage as a soloist. Without places like Pacific Opera, there are very few opportunities to nurture and develop singers and therefore, I think many who may have had talented careers will fall by the wayside. If there is any opportunity to save Pacific Opera and foster it, it definitely should be embraced. JAMES ROSER (2007, 2009) I joined very early, I was in my teens, and they saw something in me a voice, potential, and gave me an opportunity. And I didn't even know at that time I wanted to be a singer. In fact, I was studying a finance degree at the same time. And it was great, because I could do both and it allowed me to have some time to think about what I really wanted. Pacific Opera caters to every type of singer at any level, and it's also a place where I felt it was safe and encouraging, and I was allowed to make mistakes and I made very many. But fast forward 10 years, almost, and I've just finished the Summer Season, I've done concerts in Europe, Switzerland, Italy, France, and I'm going back to London to do the School's Program at English National Opera. CATHY ZHANG (2008, 2009, 2010)
Thank you for your interest Pacific Opera ABN 28 113 387 741 Tel +61 02 9252 7547 auditions@pacificopera.com.au www.pacificopera.com.au Suite 3, Level 7 9-13 Young St Sydney NSW