Auditioning for opera?

[LoveBlueCheese]

Hello! My 9 year old DS is a chorister and has recently expressed interest in auditioning for child parts in operas. Anyone know how to go about it? I know west end auditions / castings come can cone through musical theatre companies, but for operas??

Where you you live? That might have an impact on feasibility.

We are in London.

My daughter had a scholarship to the Welsh National Opera’s Saturday school. Maybe ENO has one?

London Youth Opera is for 9-18 year olds. They do one production a year in December, so too late for this year but have a look for next time. It is a charity so full bursaries are available.

They have to commit to rehearsals twice a week during the Autumn term but the hours are much more sociable than they would be in an adult production and she would have a bigger role.

Sorry he not she. They want more boys than are currently involved too.

The Royal Opera House has a youth programme on Saturdays. They both train and perform. I don’t have a child there but I know several and they have all been there several years as they are really happy and their singing voices are beautiful and get stronger every time I hear them. I think they would also know of more professional children’s opportunities than just with the Royal Opera, though that’s not a bad connection to have.

I would certainly say it’s worth a look if it suits your schedule. And not a bad venue for the end of term work sharing really!

Thanks for all the suggestions!! Will look them up

The ROH youth programme seems to have a lot that do the acting roles.

The singing ones seem to mainly go to the Cardinal Vaughan boys.

They're recently been casting more through agents as well. A number of recent girls have all got West End credits.

Conservatories usually have a youth school with a choir and orchestra. Also opera companies tend to advertise coming auditions for the following year.