The YOUNG ARTIST EXPERIENCE
Ash Lawn Opera provides Young Artists with an enriching way to enhance their professional careers. Young Artists have performance opportunities not only in main stage productions at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Charlottesville, but also in cover and outreach performances. Young Artists also sing in master classes and have the opportunity to audition for important agents, administrators, and conductors.
Performance opportunities
Young Artists have the opportunity to perform some principal roles and numerous supporting roles in the main stage productions of Madama Butterfly and My Fair Lady, as well as cover principal roles and perform in the ensembles of both productions at The Paramount Theater. Additionally, Young Artists covering roles in Madama Butterfly have the opportunity to perform the entire work with piano, and all Young Artists perform in outreach, donor, and marketing events.
Training
Ash Lawn Opera Young Artists receive private coaching sessions, sing in master classes, and have the opportunity to audition for agents and artistic administrators. Young Artists have the opportunity to build mentoring relationships with the artistic staff and principal artists. See above for a list of past master classes and auditions.
Participants
Young Artists are typically finished with graduate studies and are completing post-graduate training, such as Young Artist Programs.
Compensation
Young Artists receive a total stipend of $1,900 for the entire period, plus host housing (private room/bath in a donor's home). Transportation to, from, and within Charlottesville is the responsibility of the artist.
Young Artists are eligible to audition for the following main stage solo opportunities:
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Perform main stage:
Suzuki
Goro
Kate Pinkerton
Prince Yamadori
The Bonze
Commissioner
Registrar
Assorted bit parts
Cover main stage/perform outreach with piano:
Cio-Cio San
Pinkerton
Sharpless
Suzuki
MY FAIR LADY
Perform main stage:
Colonel Pickering
Mrs. Higgins
Mrs. Eynsford-Hill
Assorted bit parts
Cover main stage:
Eliza Doolittle
Henry Higgins
Alfred Doolittle
Freddy Eynsford-Hill
If you would like to be considered to perform or cover a specific role, please include an aria of that character (or something stylistically similar) in your audition repertoire. If you would like to be considered for a specific role in My Fair Lady, please also include a selection of your choice of that role's dialogue.
The complete score and libretto of My Fair Lady may be accessed on the Ash Lawn Opera website by clicking here and entering the password alo2015.
No live auditions will be held; all decisions are based on the submitted materials.
To audition to be a Young Artist, please send the following materials by Dec. 15, 2014:
To submit by mail:
Ash Lawn Opera - Young Artist
PO Box 2498
Charlottesville, VA 22902
To submit by email: info@ashlawnopera.org
Subject:
-CD, DVD, mp3, YouTube link, or link to an audio file of at least two arias (one aria from an opera and one from a stylistically appropriate musical) and, if applicable, your dialogue selection. See above about including an aria that is stylistically similar to the role you would like to cover.
-Resume (Please include experience in dance/movement)
-Head shot
-Check or money order for $25 to Ash Lawn Opera ...OR... Pay the $25 application fee via our Donate page. Click on the 'Make a Donation' button and enter 'YA fee' in the memo line.
Whether you submit your resume, head shot, and payment via mail or email, you may submit your recordings in either physical or digital form.
All applicants are welcome to audition as Young Artists and Apprentice Singers in the same application for no additional fee.
More Info about Ashlawn Young Artist Applications
