Opera courses
Introduction to Opera Performance
Apply to study opera
Our main round of auditions for the autumn term of 24 to 25 have now passed, but we are holding auditions for a limited number of available places on both our opera courses on 9 September 2024, offered on a first-come-first-served basis. If you wish to be considered, please send your application form as soon as you can and ideally before 4 September.
Work experience opportunities
We are also offering a stipend of £500 per term (£1500 for all three terms) for the period September 2024 to July 2025 for the following volunteer role:
Assistant Stage Director and Stage Manager:
This would be suitable for an emerging stage director or stage manager wishing to gain more experience in the context of opera productions in the educational sector. The successful applicant will be assisting the stage director in rehearsals and other relevant responsibilities, providing administrative assistance to the Head of Opera, and taking over the stage management of the Morley Opera School shows at the Bridewell Theatre in July.
This stipend is offered as a taxable allowance towards living and travelling costs, and you must have the right to work and live in the UK for the period of the engagement.
If you wish to be considered, please submit a CV and a cover letter stating why you think you are suitable for the role, and how it would be beneficial to your professional development. If your application is successful, we will get in touch to arrange an interview or audition. Deadline for expressions of interest is 30 August 5pm, although we may accept applications past this deadline.
Opera At Morley
Morley College has an established reputation as a provider of opera education.
We have two courses available:
The Introduction to Opera Performance course is designed for singers who possess a secure classical technique wishing to gain stagecraft and vocal skills in solo and ensemble operatic repertoire. It is led by two tutors, a stage director and a vocal coach, and the students present a public performance at the end of each term.
The Morley Opera School is designed for more experienced singers who possess a secure classical technique wishing to develop and combine stagecraft and performance with existing musical skills at a higher level, in order to develop their professional repertoire portfolio. It is led by the Head of Opera Michalis Angelakis and Senior Vocal Coach Nicholas Bosworth, and the staff includes a team of stage director, language coaches and movement coach each term. Many of our students are offered places for postgraduate degrees at major music colleges and conservatoires in the UK and abroad, or roles with professional and amateur opera companies.
Staff at the Morley Opera School in recent years include:
- Stage Directors – William Kerley, Ashley Dean
- Language Coaches – Matteo dalle Fratte, Johanna Mayr and Darquise Bilodeau
- Head of Opera – Michalis Angelakis
- Senior Vocal Coach – Nicholas Bosworth
- Movement director – Carmine de Amicis
- Masterclasses by David Gowland and Elaine Kidd, Artistic Directors of the Jette Parker Young Artists’ Programme at the Royal Opera House, and tenor Nicky Spence
How to apply
To apply, please download and complete the Morley Opera Audition Application Form and email it to opera@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk
The application procedure is the same for both courses, and you will be considered for both of them, but please tick your preference in the relevant box of the application form.
If your application is successful, we will be in touch by email to arrange an audition, for which you will need to prepare two arias of your choice in different languages.
The deadline to apply for the autumn term is 20 June 5pm, although later applications may be considered subject to availability of audition slots. Please check by writing to opera@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk
You will:
- Develop key professional skills such as stagecraft, movement, diction and vocal expression
- Experience the demands of preparing, rehearsing and performing a variety of repertoire
- Learn how to follow a conductor and gain experience performing on stage
- Learn how to work as part of an ensemble
- Receive guidance on artistic development
- Take part in public performances, from concerts and recitals to fully staged opera scenes
We will:
- Guide you through regular individual and group vocal coaching
- Develop your pronunciation and understanding of Italian, German, and French repertoire
- Provide opportunities to sing with an orchestra
- Support you when applying for postgraduate study at music colleges and conservatoires
- Directed scenes performances; rehearsing with a director and conductor.
- Regular monitoring, feedback and advice from the course leader and senior vocal coach.
Morley Opera Alumni
Many of the Morley Opera alumni have successfully proceeded to post-graduate education at one of the UK’s prestigious music colleges, or been offered operatic roles in companies of professional standing.
Coloratura soprano Rachel Duckett (2015 to16 MOS alumnus) won the main prize of the prestigious Voice of Black Opera 2022 competition. Read more about Rachel’s success here
Below are some more examples:
2022 to 2023:
- Baritone Joel Robson: Master of Music in Vocal Performance, Royal College of Music
- Soprano Julieta Kunik: Master of Music in Vocal Performance, Royal College of Music
- Soprano Hannah Andrusier: Master of Music in Vocal Performance (with scholarship), Royal Northern College of Music
2021 to 2022:
- Soprano Nikki Martin: MMus (Master of Music) in Opera, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Soprano Jodie Li-Smith: Master in Performance in Vocal and Opera, Royal Northern College of Music
- Baritone Leo Selleck: Graduate in Vocal Performance, Royal College of Music
- Soprano Roberta Philip: Extended Artist Masters in Vocal Studies, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Mezzo-soprano Yixuan Qian: MMus in Opera, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
2020 to 2021:
- Baritone Owain Evans has been offered a place on the Masters in Performance at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama from September 2021′. Read more about Owain’s success here
- Mezzo-soprano Eleanor Holmes: Graduate Diploma, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Morley Opera School: Hitting the High Notes – news of our student’s latest success
Listen to our latest podcast for Morley Radio, in which students perform arias by Mozart, accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of Morley College tutors and students:
Introduction to Opera Performance
Morley also offers an Introduction to Opera Performance course which is designed for singers who possess a secure classical technique wishing to gain stagecraft and operatic singing skills. There will be opportunities for public performances and supporting roles in Morley Opera School performances.
Follow Morley Opera on social media:
