Kentucky Opera Studio Artists
Since 2000, Kentucky Opera has offered a training program for aspiring, young singers. The program is a successful project using singers to support our main stage productions as well as educational and outreach programs. In the 2007-08 season, a newly restructured program, the Studio Artist Program, was launched. The change was inspired by several graduate programs at area universities, particularly at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.
Meet the 2010 Kentucky Opera Studio Artists
Kentucky Opera’s Studio Artist Program provides unique training experiences and career guidance for emerging opera artists at multiple stages in their education. The Program consists of three levels of singing artists: Resident, Apprentice and Intern.
Resident Artists
Resident Artists have typically completed their graduate studies in voice and are looking to extend their education and training to include mainstage experiences with comprimario and covering roles as well as access to professional singers, conductors, directors and coaches. Resident Artists also perform for educational and outreach events throughout the community including live radio and TV broadcasts, donor events, community concerts and schools.
apprentice Artists
The Apprentice Artist level is a partnership program with two of Kentucky’s universities -- the University of Louisville School of Music and the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre. Apprentice Artists are still in the process of completing their graduate training in voice at these universities and are given the opportunity to train with Kentucky Opera during the fall mainstage season. Apprentice Artists may have comprimario, cover and chorus roles for mainstage productions and are included in all professional development opportunities, master classes and coachings.
Intern Artists
The Intern Artist level is a partnership program with the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS), a unique school within the Jefferson County Public Schools and one of only two schools in Kentucky to provide high school students with majors in the performing arts. Intern Artists are given the opportunity to participate in the chorus for one or more of the fall mainstage operas.
Professional development opportunities for all levels of Studio Artists are made available through Kentucky Opera’s Education Department. Working with the Studio Artist Music Director and Kentucky Opera’s Resident Conductor/Music Director, the Education Department provides opportunities for Studio Artists to study with incoming professional opera singers, conductors and directors as well as receive extended instruction in acting, recitative, monologues, movement, stage combat and other stage/opera related areas. Other professional development opportunities include a session on taxes, resumes, head shots and audition preparations with Kentucky Opera’s Artistic Administrator, as well as other business related areas.
Resident and Apprentice Artists are the principal performers in a collaborative semi-staged concert opera with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra as well as the Composer Workshop, a composer in residence project with the University of Louisville School of Music and the Academy of Music at St. Francis in the Fields. Resident composers work extensively with Studio Artists over the course of one week, culminating in a final public concert of new and/or existing works. Composers in residence have included Jake Heggie and Ben Moore with future composers to include Daron Hagen and Ricky Ian Gordon.
Auditions for the Resident Artist level are held annually in Louisville and Cincinnati as well as other cities like Chicago and Philadelphia. Resident Artists are paid a weekly stipend and are responsible for their own housing. The fall mainstage season is typically twelve weeks with rehearsals beginning in late August and final performances in late November. The winter education tour season begins in mid January with one week of rehearsals and touring throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky for up to five weeks. Resident Artists may be involved in both seasons depending on the needs of either mainstage or the education tour.
For more information on the Studio Artist program, contact Deanna Hoying at 502.561.7938
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