Morley Opera School

When & Where

23 April 2025 - 5 July 2025 ( 90 hours, 10 weeks )
Evening, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Late starts accepted
Tutor Multiple
Course Code W24VSSC05C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

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. This year, under the leadership of the Interim Senior Lecturer in Opera Studies, Panaretos Kyriatzidis, 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 at the Bridewell Theatre in the City of London on 4 July 2025 at 7.30pm and 5 July 2025 at 12pm – please see the ‘Class Format and Activities’ section for company call times during the production week. Auditions for remaining places of study in the summer term of 24/25 will take place in February/March. There may be further auditions closer to the start of the course, subject to remaining places available, please contact opera@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://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/music/opera/

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Develop vocal performance and pronunciation skills through working with vocal coaches and language coaches
Develop stagecraft skills, such as movement and characterisation on stage through working with a stage director
Identify and address strengths and weaknesses in performance abilities
Experience working in a professional environment, adhering to international standards of discipline and custom, within a strict rehearsal schedule
Develop ability to follow a conductor

Cost

Full fee

£980

Concession fee

£735

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

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: Panaretos Kyriatzidis - 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: June 30th, July 1st and July 2nd, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Show 1: July 4th, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM (Performance at 7:30 PM) - Show 2: July 5th, 11:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Performance at 12:00 PM) Students are also expected to continue regular individual singing lessons to further develop their technique.

Entry requirements

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 Course Leader 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 (www.morleycollege.ac.uk/morley-opera-school) and e-mail it to opera@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 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@morleycollege.ac.uk. We will then contact you to arrange a short online interview.

What you need to know before you enrol

Please check the 'Entry Requirements' and visit our webpage https://www.morleycollege.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/music/opera/ for more information about opera at Morley.

What you need

Music scores (provided by the college) Note-taking equipment. Comfortable clothes for movement sessions.

What you can do next

Depending upon vocal technical assuredness, students should investigate full-time study in one of the major conservatoires. Students, who have a great deal of experience and a secure vocal technique, could consider entry into the profession. The course may be usefully repeated for more than three terms.