This year the Crittenden Opera Studio will hold the Summer Workshops from July 5-18, 2015 at Washington, D.C.'s Landon School. The program will include in-depth study of acting, stage and rehearsal techniques for two weeks. Between 35 to 40 students attend this session. Using the scene study method, each singer performs three scenes of various styles that are appropriate to their vocal development, interests and needs.
The intense concentration over the two weeks includes:
• Daily acting class
• Daily movement class
• Daily techniques class
• Daily lectures on basic principles of acting, stage deportment, the business and personal preparedness
• Staging rehearsals
• Music rehearsals
• Personal physical evaluation for particular problems
Each summer we have a guest artist who talks with the students to give them a personal insight from a successful member of the operatic community.
Our workshops received the highest rating in the latest New York Opera Newsletter (Classical Singer) poll.
Singers attending the workshops have varying levels of experience. We accept extraordinarily gifted and advanced high school students, college students who are looking to get a more professional education than they may be receiving, post-graduate students who are looking to continue their operatic training, young professionals who need to learn the details of a most demanding craft or who wish to polish their skills, people in other professions who love opera and want to improve their acting abilities, and singers who know nothing about opera but are intrigued.
During the Washington, D.C. workshop of 2002, we included a Youth Group of talented high school students, along with recently graduated high schoolers, into our workshop. We had ten singers and they blended into our program smoothly. We intend to continue the Youth Group and build upon our success.
Our criteria for admission are a voice of a sufficient technical level to perform the scenes, enough musical training or ability to learn and memorize music, and a desire to commit their energies completely for the duration of the program. Each member comes with different backgrounds and goals, but we join together to experience the thrill of opera in rehearsals and performances. Each member receives our directors' personal attention to improve as far and as fast as possible.
To complete the application, please visit Crittenden's website.
All participants should complete and return the application form and include the application fee of $30 (made payable to Richard Crittenden), a résumé, photo, and a list of scenes and roles performed. Applicants not auditioning in person should include a cassette tape or CD of two arias with their application. Priority is given to applications received before April 19. After that date singers will be accepted if there are openings.
Auditions will be held in Washington, DC on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Tuition for the 2015 Summer Workshops is $650.
