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Artists in Training
The Merola Opera Program, under the artistic direction of the San Francisco Opera Center, offers performance, training, and career development opportunities for young professional singers, coach/pianists, and stage directors.
In addition to numerous performance opportunities, each participant receives daily individual coaching in the area of their discipline, classes in diction, acting and stage deportment, movement, financial planning, mental health/wellness, physical health/wellness, and public relations/branding from leading professionals in the opera field. In addition, internationally renowned artists conduct a series of public master classes.
The Merola Opera Program provides a weekly allowance, round-trip transportation from place of residence to San Francisco, and shared-accommodation housing. Please note: the Merola Opera Program only provides housing to participants and does not provide housing to spouse/partner, children, other relatives, or pets.
For five years after leaving Merola, alumni may be eligible, with Merola's approval, to receive up to a total of $12,000 in career grants, with a maximum of $6,000 in any single year.
Each year singers and pianists are chosen from the Merola Opera Program to join San Francisco Opera's prestigious Adler Fellowship Program. The Adler program gives 10-12 young artists a year a performance-oriented experience, providing individualized and advanced training. Adler Fellows are engaged for roles in San Francisco Opera’s season, as well as performing in Opera Center programs and activities. The Adler Fellowship is a renewable yearlong residency and is a salaried position.
Merola Opera Program and San Francisco Opera Center may engage singers and pianists for a Schwabacher Recital to take place in the spring of 2024 at a San Francisco venue. These recitals have been endowed in perpetuity by the generosity of celebrated Bay Area singer, scholar, and teacher James Schwabacher.
MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM 2024 AUDITIONS
Program Dates
Pianists: Thursday, May 4, 2024 through Saturday, August 17, 2024
Singers and Director: Monday, June 3, 2024 through Saturday, August 17, 2024
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the 2024 Merola season has past, and the application process is now closed. Please check back in early August 2024 for the notice to apply for the 2025 season.
Materials Required
1. Completed application form
2. Video File: Singers: a video file of one operatic aria recorded in the last 12 months is required to be submitted with this application. Pianists: a video file of one selection of a collaborative performance with singer recorded in the last 12 months is required to be submitted with this application. Directors: please see specific requirements on the Director application page.
3. Headshot
4. Resume
5. Name and contact information of 2 industry professionals to serve as professional references
Please note: All application materials must be submitted by the application deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Application/Audition Fee
None
Audition Process
Singers and pianists selected for an in-person audition will be notified following the video prescreening round, approximately 3 weeks before their audition date. Best efforts will be made to schedule applicants selected for in-person auditions in their chosen audition location.
Directors chosen for a virtual interview will be notified and scheduled via Zoom in November 2023.
Please note that date preferences will be taken into strong consideration but cannot be guaranteed.
A photo ID must be shown before in-person auditions.
Director interviews will be 30 minutes in length and will be scheduled via Zoom.
In-Person Audition Requirements for Singers
Singers should prepare five selections including the following:
- Four opera arias, one of which must be in Italian.
- One art song or musical theatre/cabaret selection in the language of your choice.
Singers may begin with a selection of their choosing, following the guidance in the Audition Requirements section of the application, and should be prepared to perform any selection on their audition list. The audition panel may ask for additional selections.
Pianist Fee
None. A pianist is provided free of charge. You may bring your own pianist at your own cost.
In-Person Audition Requirements for Pianists
Pianist/coach applicants granted an audition must choose ONE option from EACH of the following five categories. All selections are to be PLAYED AND SUNG by the applicant. Sight Reading will be included in the audition.
Pianists may begin with a selection of their choosing and should be prepared to play and sing any of their selections following the guidance in the Audition Requirements section of the pianist application.
-EITHER the Act 1 finale from Don Giovanni OR the Act 2 finale from Le nozze di Figaro
-A brief secco recitative from a Mozart opera
-An aria or scene from an opera by Puccini or Richard Strauss
-One aria from a Bel Canto opera
-One art song
Pianist/coaches should be prepared to begin their live audition with a selection of their choice, after which the audition panel may ask for additional selections.
Please note: Merola Opera Program does not permit audition swapping. If you are unable to attend your assigned audition, please contact auditions@merola.org for assistance.
Virtual Interview Requirements for Directors
Directors chosen for a virtual interview will be notified and scheduled via Zoom in November 2023.
Merola Stage Director applicants should be prepared to discuss, in detail, concepts for productions of operas they wish to direct. Please be ready to discuss general philosophy toward production. Applicant is asked to include a brief statement in the application describing their interest and background in becoming a young artist stage director in the Merola Opera Program. Applicants should be prepared to screen share an up-to-date portfolio for discussion at the interview.
Payment Information
A weekly stipend is provided.
The Merola Opera Program provides a weekly stipend, round-trip transportation from place of residence to San Francisco, and shared-accommodation housing. Please note: the Merola Opera Program only provides housing to participants and does not provide housing to spouse/partner, children, other relatives, or pets.
For five years after leaving Merola, alumni may be eligible, with Merola's approval, to receive up to a total of $12,000 in career grants, with a maximum of $6,000 in any single year.
For more information on applying to the Merola Opera Program, contact: