Key Dates Expand Key Dates Applications open 18 October 2024 Applications close 27 January 2025 at 11:59pm Deadline for references 3 February 2025 First Round Auditions 26-27 February 2025* Second Round Auditions 28 February 2025 We will endeavor to allocate audition slots on 27th February for applicants traveling from outside of London. Please be sure to mention this in your application form.
Application Expand Application Applications must be made by completing an application form accessible from 18 October. As part of your application, you will be required to pay an audition fee of £10. Once we have received your application form, we will contact you with instructions on how to pay the fee. Your application will only be accepted after you have submitted the application form and paid your application fee. Following receipt of your audition fee, you will be allocated a first-round audition. The following will be required: Two references by industry professionals (details included on the application form). References should be written by music or theatre professionals (for example directors, agents, established singers, accompanists, heads of departments), but not your current teacher or any previous teachers. A recent photograph A completed Equal Opportunities questionnaire. This information will not be made available to the audition panel, but will help NOS to monitor and be accountable for its equal opportunities and diversity objectives.
First Round Auditions Expand First Round Auditions All repetiteurs who apply to the National Opera Studio are given an in person first-round audition. These will happen in person at the National Opera Studio in London. If an applicant is unable to attend auditions in person, please email [email protected] to discuss alternative options. You should expect your first-round auditions to last approximately 30 mins. The following will be required: Two scenes from contrasting operas Both scenes should involve at least two characters You will be asked to play whilst singing in the vocal lines
Second Round Auditions Expand Second Round Auditions Second round auditions will also be in person at the National Opera Studio in London. You should expect second round auditions to last approximately 60 mins. The following will be required: Two scenes from contrasting operas. These pieces can be same as the ones performed in the first round. Both scenes should involve at least two characters. You will be asked to play whilst singing in the vocal lines. A compulsory set piece which will be sent to all candidates a week before the second round audition Everyone should learn this set piece, and will be expected to play it should they be invited to attend a second round audition. A piece of sightreading An interview with the panel
Cancellation and rescheduling Expand Cancellation and rescheduling If you need to reschedule your audition time, please email [email protected]. If it is possible to accommodate your request, we will do so. If it is impossible for us to reschedule your audition, you must either keep your original time or cancel. There will be no refund of the £10 application fee after a submitted application has been made on our application form.
Funding and living in London Expand Funding and living in London Thanks to support from Arts Council England, our six partner companies, various trusts and foundations, and private philanthropy: All training is completely free to YAs YAs will receive a monthly performance stipend (currently £850/month) Additional bursary support is available (currently up to a further £770/month) We have additional funds available for singing lesson and auditions We regret that we are unable to offer financial support for travelling to and from NOS auditions.
Eligibility Expand Eligibility If you do not hold a valid UK passport, you should be aware that the Home Office/UK Border Agency has rigorous conditions that need to be met before the necessary visa will be issued. Without this, you will not be able to come to the National Opera Studio. If you are offered a place on the Young Artists' Programme and you do not hold a UK passport or valid visa which extends to the end of your time at the National Opera Studio, then your place will be a conditional offer. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain a visa. Tier 4 Student visas are not valid unless they are converted to graduate or another type of eligible visa. National Opera Studio Young Artist conditional offer-holders are currently eligible to apply for a Tier 1 Global Talent Visa (Exceptional Promise/ Emerging Leader/ Potential Leader). Please note, this is a two stage process. The first stage will require an endorsement from Arts Council England. The second will be the Visa application process. Applying for the visa takes 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, and 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK. You must be able to demonstrate that you have a ‘developing’ record of work in at least 2 countries, one of which can be your country of residence. Click here for an overview on the Global Talent visa Find out more about the Global Talent visa for music It is vital that all applicants accepted onto our Young Artists' Programme have a good command of the English language. We reserve the right to request proof of your proficiency in English and, if necessary, ask you to sit a test.
Do I need a DBS check? Expand Due to the nature of our work, we will require you to have a clean DBS check to become a Young Artist. We will cover the cost of a DBS check should you be offered a place on the Programme, but any offer would be conditional on the check coming back clean.