Opera Holland Park is committed to identifying and nurturing talent. Our Young Artists Scheme is unique in the UK. It offers the opportunity for emerging artists to rehearse in a professional environment and perform on a major London stage to a paying audience during our summer festival. The scheme also encourages participants to develop outreach and education skills through their involvement with our award-winning Inspire programme.
Opening doors
The Young Artists Scheme at Opera Holland Park was launched in 2011 to open doors into the industry for emerging directors, conductors and singers, with the generous financial support of the late Christine Collins.
The Young Artists rehearse alongside the main cast in the lead up to our summer season. For a four week period before their performances, they enjoy a dedicated rehearsal space of their own. They are also given individual mentoring, language coaching and a dedicated sitzprobe with the City of London Sinfonia.
Although ticket prices are reduced for Young Artists Performances, the artists are paid for their work. They are expected to perform at a high level and are given the support to do so. Our Young Artists act as covers for the main cast, stepping in when principals are unable to perform.
Industry leading
Critics, agents and managers are invited to the Young Artists Performances. In 2018, 2019 and 2021, the Young Artists Performances of La traviata, Un ballo in maschera and The Marriage of Figaro sold out. In 2016, the International Opera Awards marked the success of the OHP Young Artists Scheme with a posthumous philanthropy award to Christine Collins. In 2018, the Young Artists performed OHP’s inaugural Schools Matinee alongside their public Young Artists Performance.
Ongoing relationship
Opera Holland Park’s relationship with the Young Artists rarely ends after one season. Many of the Young artists return year after year to perform on our mainstage. 2012 Young Artists conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren and director Oliver Platt exemplify this. They have developed successful careers with other companies and within OHP since their debuts with us.
As well as this, many previous OHP Young Artists are involved in the cast and creative teams for main stage productions. They included: Matthew Kofi Waldren, Alison Langer, Stephen Aviss, Mike Bradley, Henry Grant Kerswell, Trevor Eliot Bowes, Alys Roberts, Oliver Platt, Julien Van Mellaerts, Nardus Williams, Elizabeth Karani, Claire Lees.
Auditioning
We welcome applications from emerging artists to join our Young Artists Scheme, with auditions held in the Autumn each year.
The Young Artists production for the Opera Holland Park 2023 Season will be Hansel and Gretel. Applications for this are closed, and will reopen for 2024 in September 2023.