Summer Opera Intensive Seminar

The Summer Opera Intensive Seminar at Northwestern University is a week-long seminar in the last week of July that will consist of lessons, coachings, master classes and lectures with world traveled professionals that will culminate in a performance of a fully staged opera and music theater scenes. Whether you are just venturing out in to the field as a high school student, you are in college, or you are wanting to return to the business after a hiatus, this seminar will help you find your footing in a very safe space. In these classes you will learn how to audition for an agent, an opera company, and a musical theater company. The seminar will identify pieces that will make you your most marketable product and then help you to perfect them. You will learn how a singer can most effectively create a dynamic résumé and bio, get advice on the proper photo for your voice type, and provide a marketing strategy if you are at that stage in your career. Bodywork and acting classes as well as guidance from vocal health specialists will aid the singer in remain healthy throughout their career. A conductor will conduct you in scenes from operas and music theater or perhaps a full production and they will be performed on Friday evening to a full audience. Space is limited so early submission of participant applications is advisable.

A special section has been added for high school students interested in exploring what it would be like to have a career on the stage. In addition to coachings and performances, they will begin to develop skills in preparation for college auditions for both music theater and classical vocal study.

Pamela Hinchman was an Adler Fellow at Merola Opera in San Francisco, has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall as well as with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh, Wichita, Columbus, Harrisburg, Connecticut, Kansas City, West Virginia, Cairo (Egypt), and Calgary Symphony Orchestras to name a few. Winner of the Prix Spéciale in Belgium’s International Bel Canto Competition, she has also appeared with the Cleveland Opera, Mansfield Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Company of Boston, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie (Belgium), Nashville Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Austin Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

MTWThF, 9:00-12:00, 2:00-5:00 pm, 6:00-10:00 pm
Last week in July
Final Concert, Friday 7:00 pm
Ryan Center for the Musical Arts
Participant Tuition: $650, Full Program Auditor: $400, Per Day Auditor: $80

Audition requirements: A digital audio recording of three selections of your choice.

Applications must be submitted via the Summer Application, located on the Bienen School website at www.music.northwestern.edu/academics/summer-session. Upon creating a file in the Application, applicants should select “Summer Session” as their application type, and then select the workshop to which you are applying. This will ensure that your file is distributed to the correct reviewers. No separate application form is necessary--do not submit an application to Northwestern University via the Common Application or Graduate Music Online Application. Applicants will be asked to upload a resume as well as all audition requirements for the performance offerings. NOTE: No paper applications will be accepted. Do not mail recordings to the Bienen School of Music or to faculty, as these will not be reviewed or returned.

For more information contact the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music Office of Admission and Financial Aid at 847-491-3141 or summermusic@northwestern.edu