NOS Academy Insight

The National Opera Studio Academy aims to identify and support emerging singers aged 19-25 who show considerable vocal promise but may have encountered educational or professional barriers. As part of this opportunity, eleven Academy Singers received intensive musical and vocal coaching from NOS staff and guest coaches, designed to present the artistic standards and breadth of a current operatic career. NOS Academy 2025 singer, Oliver Barker shares his experience…

“For a singer, it’s easy to feel isolated and intimidated by the big wide Industry, but at NOS, I feel I’ve been welcomed into a musical family that will support me for a long time coming.

I initially wasn’t sure what to expect from the ‘Academy’ as it was a new programme, but fresh out of my undergraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire I was keen to get started. The advertisement for the course struck me with its emphasis on applicants who have experienced set backs in their journey, whether this be financial, vocal, personal etc. It can be easy to think faults are things to cover up and hide away, so to see NOS looking for singers who haven’t had the perfect journey left me feeling encouraged.

After a very relaxed, and personal application process (sadly not always a given) I felt quickly reassured that this new venture was one I was going to learn a great deal from. However, having now undergone a week of intensive training with NOS, I couldn’t have known how meticulously curated the course would be.
In just a week’s work, the Academy managed to cover a huge range of content.

With a welcome day to get to know each singer and our individual aims, a week filled with everything we might need was planned. This consisted of daily group and solo coaching, daily seminars on the behind the scenes aspect of singing, professional headshots and recordings, audition prep sessions, daily warmups, and more. Though a week might seem short, I was struck by how quickly I got to know not only the other singers, but also the fantastic team brought in to work with us.
It’s worth saying that NOS not only spared no effort in helping us learn the most that we could, they also supported us outside of our learning. From free accommodation to travel expenses, and even lunches supplied daily. This support has continued even after the course ended, with regular ticket offers sent out to us, the promise of access to the building, and even recommendation of work.

Looking back on hearing the Academy singers on our first day to our last day, I can honestly say not one participant walked away without having grown in confidence and ability. People who know me can attest that I will recommend the NOS Academy to anyone who will listen, and greatly look forward to what else they might have planned for us.”