Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Opera Studies

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Students holding chairs in the performance of Cherubin

Opera Studies

Opera Studies provides an intensive training for up to 24 singers and 4 student repetiteurs at any one time. It offers an advanced level of vocal training and aspires to work at a professional level over two years full-time.

In 2007 the Opera Department won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the quality of its achievements and its innovative training programme.

The course provides:

Singing lessons
Individual coaching in roles and repertoire
Acting and stage techniques - movement, dance, make-up and drama
Language coaching
Workshop productions of scenes
Fully staged public productions
Career guidance

Applicants for this specialism must have a developed vocal technique. There are no age limits for applicants but candidates’ vocal maturity and potential for development are taken into consideration.

Training in stage techniques and musical coaching is in the hands of experienced visiting staff who are active in the profession. In addition to the vocal and dramatic training, the department mounts, in full collaboration with the Technical Theatre Department, three full public productions each year and three programmes of operatic excerpts in a workshop setting.

Repetiteur Training

This is for excellent pianists and accomplished sight-readers, with experience of accompanying singers and some knowledge of the operatic repertoire.

This one or two-year course is offered as part of the Guildhall Artist Masters programme and is run from within the Opera Department; successful candidates will be fully committed to the work of that department.

The course comprises:

Accompanying opera production rehearsals
Coaching singers on the Opera Course
Individual coaching
Training in repetiteur techniques
Harpsichord tuition and experience of continuo playing
Piano lessons
Language coaching
Accompanying coaching sessions with guest coaches
Introductory training in opera conducting for those interested

Recent productions

2011-2012

Nicolai Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Britten A Midsummer Night's Dream
Rorem Our Town

2010-2011

Almeida Spinalba
Poulenc Dialogues des Carmélites
Donizetti Rita
Tchaikovsky Iolanta

2009-2010

Donizetti L’assedio di Calais
Massenet Chérubin
Britten Albert Herring

2008-2009

Martinu The Marriage
Rossini La cambiale di matrimonio
Gluck La rencontre imprévue
Sallinen The King Goes Forth to France

2007-2008

Mozart Die Zauberflöte
Offenbach La vie parisienne
Gounod La colombe
Rossini L'occasione fa il ladro

2006-2007

R. Strauss Capriccio
Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Hindemith The Long Christmas Dinner
Berkeley The Dinner Engagement

2005-2006

Mozart La finta semplice
Verdi Falstaff
Puccini Gianni Schicchi and Il tabarro

2004-2005

Thomas Mignon
Ravel L’heure espagnole
Poulenc Les mamelles de Tirésias
Britten The Turn of the Screw – Kyiv Festival
Jonathan Dove The Little Green Swallow

Recent Student Successes

Maire Flavin (Opera Course) Winner of the Thelma King Award

Eva Ganizate (Opera Course) Winner of 1st Prize, John Warner Memorial Award; Winner of the Musique d’Ensemble Woodbrass Prize

Sky Ingram (Opera Course) Winner of the Lorna Viol Memorial Prize and ROSL Trophy for the most outstanding musician from overseas; Tait Memorial Scholarship for an Australian Musician

Sophie Junker (Opera Course) Winner of the Handel Singing Competition

Eleanor Laugharne (Opera Course) Winner of the Maggie Teyte Prize and Miriam Licette Scholarship

Amy J Payne (Opera Course) Winner of 2nd Prize, John Warner Memorial Award

Elena Sancho-Pereg (Opera Course) Winner of the International Singing Competition of Lograno, Spain

Victor Sicard (Opera Course) Winner of 2nd Prize at the Jackdaws Vocal Awards; Winner of the 2nd prize at the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform

Koji Terada (Opera Course) Winner of the Clonter Opera Prize and Audience Prize

Alumni include

Nicky Spence (Opera 2009)
Njabulo Madlala (Opera 2009)
Benedict Nelson (Opera 2008)
Katherine Broderick (Opera 2007)
David Stout (Opera 2006)
Anna Stéphany (Opera 2005)
Katie van Kooten (Opera 2004)
Kate Royal (Opera 2003)
Sally Matthews (Opera 2000)
Mark Stone (Opera 1998)
Toby Spence (Opera 1995)
Roderick Williams (Opera 1995)
Gwyn Hughes Jones (Opera 1994)
Claire Rutter (Opera 1991)
Bryn Terfel (Opera 1989)
Anne Sofie von Otter (Opera 1982)

Recent graduates won places at the highly-acclaimed National Opera Studio, Opera Studio Young Artist Programme at the Berlin Staatsoper, English National Opera Young Artist Programme and the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House. Others secured roles with Opera Holland Park, Nuremberg Opera Studio, Clonter Opera, Garsington, Grange Park, Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera and Welsh National Opera.

“ You have access to some of the best musicians in London and all the knowledge they have about their profession. ”

Thanihan Jeyapalan
BMus Bassoon

“ I've had amazing masterclasses with great musicians such as Richard Goode and Paul Lewis. ”

Grace Yeo
MMus Piano

“ A world-class staff, whose dedication and passion inspire students to achieve their utmost potential. ”

Anna Anandarajah
BMus Vocal Studies

“ The performance opportunities available through Guildhall are second to none, and act as a springboard into the profession. ”

Edward Pick
Postgraduate Piano

“ The School’s reputation of providing world-class tuition and support for every student has proved to be true – I have been supported every step of the way. ”

Ben Gernon
BMus Tuba

“ I am thrilled with my teacher; every session confirms the decision to be here studying with him. ”

Charlie Mellor
MMus Opera Studies

“ It’s amazing to be learning from some of the leading figures in the contemporary music scene, teachers who constantly inspire and who truly wish you to succeed. ”

Sylvia Lim
BMus Composition

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