vocal Program

June 1-12, 2023

California State University,

Sacramento

Operation Opera is an innovative 10-day summer music festival and educational academy for composers, singers, and collaborative pianists, to prepare and present professional-level performances of contemporary chamber operas and art songs.

Singers will be cast in two headlining opera performances and four chamber operas selected through an international call for scores.

Art song composers chosen to participate will work with vocalists, pianists, and 4CE instrumentalists (optional) to create new art songs for premiere at the festival.

Together with composers, pianists, and 4CE musicians, invited vocalists will participate in a variety of career-enhancing, professional activities at Sacramento State University (Sacramento, CA), including masterclasses, presentations and individual coachings with festival faculty, stage and concert rehearsals–all culminating in final performances open to the public.

Professional recordings of the performances will be made available to all participants.

2022 Operation Opera
Gonzaga University

Guidelines

Eligibility

Applicants in their 5th-8th semester of voice study at the undergraduate level, graduate level, or young professionals, should apply.

All voice types should apply.

Category A- Opera performance intensive

Once selected, opera singers will be single cast in opera roles and receive scores at least 4 weeks in advance to prepare before the start of the festival. During the week of the festival, all performers will receive coachings and rehearse with composers and conductors.. Each chamber opera will be performed in a concert setting at the end of the festival.

Category B- Art Song intensive

During the festival (June 1 -11, 2023), vocal artists will be paired with a composer and pianist with whom they will collaborate to prepare and perform an art song composed for them. Each collaborative pair will premiere their art song in the final concert open to the public.

To apply

Submissions are due by Feb 1, 2023.

Participants will be notified by Mar 1, 2023.

All applications must be submitted through Google Forms.
Applicants must upload two recent (18 months old maximum) video clips via YouTube to their Google Form application.
The two videos must be uploaded as two separate YouTube links, and the two in total must not exceed 10 minutes. Do NOT send videos of entire operas or concerts. Excerpts of solo singing from an opera or concert will be accepted within the 10-minute total limit. Each video clip must be unedited and without recording enhancements. Each selection should be live or recorded in one "take."

Applicants will also be asked to upload a performance resume and a current headshot: high-resolution (300 X 500 pixels or greater) is preferred.

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Tuition & Housing

Travel and Accommodations

In-person attendance at the Operation Opera Festival in Sacramento, CA, is required to participate.

On-campus housing and meal plans are available from June 1-June 12 (11 nights, check-in on June 1st, check-out on June 12th). Rates for the entire festival start at $435: visit our housing page for more information.

You may also arrange your own housing in Sacramento.

Participants are expected to cover their own travel, accommodations, and meals.

Limited scholarship funds may be available.

Tuition & Fees