Auditioning

Opera Holland Park is thrilled to announce that the Young Artists programme will return in 2023 for a thirteenth year with a brand new production. This season’s programme will focus on the production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (sung in Italian) and will give participants the opportunity to perform their role in full on the OHP stage with the City of London Sinfonia and the OHP chorus. The Young Artists production will run alongside the main cast rehearsals for The Barber of Seville, rehearsing with an Associate Conductor, Associate Director and a language coach. They will also be covering the role for the main cast.

We are now welcoming applications from emerging artists (singers and répétiteurs) to join our 2024 Young Artists Scheme, with auditions starting in October. To apply, email production@operahollandpark.com and please specify which role you are interested in. 

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.

The OHP Young Artists programme was a revelation. It was my first professional contract with an opera company and it provided a really supportive atmosphere to make my debut on a major London stage.
Joel Williams, Young Artist 2017

 

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.

 

Alison Langer presented a heroine who was all of a piece, naturally sympathetic and retaining a certain reserve… her vocal interpretation, anchored in the caressing warmth of her middle register, was admirably integrated…. Alys Roberts [was] a compact spitfire projecting her sweet, vibrant soprano with arresting clarity…
Yehuda Shapiro, Opera Magazine

 

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.