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15 January 2025 - 5 April 2025 ( 99 hours, 11 weeks )
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Waterloo Centre
The Morley Opera School caters to experienced singers with a strong foundation in classical technique who are eager to elevate their stagecraft and performance abilities while further enhancing their musical skills at an advanced level. Under the leadership the Senior Tutor in Opera and the Senior Vocal Coach, Nicholas Bosworth, our dedicated team, comprising stage directors, language coaches, and movement instructors, collaborates each term to deliver a comprehensive training programme. Over the years, many of our alumni have followed a professional career in singing in opera houses such as the Royal Opera House and English National Opera, performed with opera companies such as the English Touring Opera, the Hampstead Garden Opera, the British Youth Opera a.o. and won in competitions such as the Voice of Black Opera Competition. Each term, the Morley Opera School students present a couple of fully-staged shows of ensemble opera scenes (ticketed performances). The shows this term will take place in the Johnny Harris Studio Theatre, Morley College Waterloo on 4 April 2025 at 7.30pm and 5 April 2025 at 2pm – please see the ‘Class Format and Activities’ section for company call times during the production week. Auditions for remaining places of study in the spring term will take place around November 2024, although there may be further auditions closer to the start of the course. There may be further auditions in early September subject to remaining places available, please contact opera@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk to enquire about audition availability. For more information about the course and to apply for an audition, please visit our website: https://staging.morleycollege.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/music/opera/
The Morley Opera School is an intensive course spanning three terms within an academic year, culminating each term with public staged performances featuring a variety of opera scenes in Italian, German, French, and English. Each student is cast in at least two roles that suit their voice type and developmental stage. The course structure is as follows: - First 3-5 Weeks: Group and individual music and language sessions with vocal coaches and a specialist language coach. - Following 4-5 Weeks: Stage rehearsals with a stage director, while continuing music rehearsals. - Last 2 Weeks: Intensive stage rehearsals, final run-throughs, and dress rehearsals. Each term also includes masterclasses with renowned opera specialists such as Roderick Williams, David Gowland, Nicky Spence, Brenda Hurley, John Ramster, Mary King, and Yvonne Howard. Optional activities include a lunchtime concert of opera arias, movement and stagecraft workshops, and more. 2024/25 Staff includes: - Course Leader: TBA - Senior Vocal Coach: Nicholas Bosworth - Italian Language Coach: Matteo Dalle Fratte - German Language Coach: Johanna Mayr - French Language Coach: Darquise Bilodeau - Stage Directors: Ashley Dean and Will Kerley Schedule: - Wednesdays & Thursdays: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Saturdays: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM Attendance Requirements: Students must commit to no more than five absences per term and be available for final rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances on the following dates: - Technical & Dress Rehearsals: March 31st, April 1st and April 2nd, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Show 1: April 4th, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM (Performance at 7:30 PM) - Show 2: April 5th, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Performance at 2:00 PM) Students are also expected to continue regular individual singing lessons to further develop their technique.
This is an advanced course for students wishing to be able to perform opera at professional standard, and all of the students are required to participate in the end-of-term public performances. You are expected to: - Have developed your vocal technique at a fairly high standard, and commit to continue receiving regular singing tuition in addition to your studies at the college (the college does not offer individual singing tuition). The Head of Opera and Senior Vocal Coach are willing to offer guidance and support in choosing a suitable vocal tutor. - Commit to no more than 5 absences per term, and to all the dress rehearsal and performance dates, as provided by the Head of Opera upon offer of a place at the Opera School. - Commit to regular practice of the music, translation and background research on the assigned repertoire. - Be responsible for a positive and collaborative approach to the rehearsal and production process - Some previous stage experience, and understanding of pronunciation rules in Italian, German and French are desirable. Entry to the course is via audition. To apply, please download and complete the form found on our webpage (staging.morleycollege.ac.uk/morley-opera-school) and e-mail it to opera@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk. We will then contact you to arrange an audition, for which you need to prepare 2 arias of your choice. In special circumstances where a live audition is not possible, we may also accept online applications accompanied by 2 recent unedited video recordings of your chosen arias. Please send along the completed application form together with private unlisted YouTube video links to opera@staging.morleycollege.ac.uk. We will then contact you to arrange a short online interview.
Please check the 'Entry Requirements' and visit our webpage https://staging.morleycollege.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/music/opera/ for more information about opera at Morley.
Music scores (provided by the college) Note-taking equipment. Comfortable clothes for movement sessions.
