Busan City Announces Recruitment for '2023 Opera Professionals'

March 15 - April 3, Recruitment for Opera Choir, Orchestra, and Support Staff

Successful Candidates to Participate in Operas 'Tosca', 'Lucia di Lammermoor', and 'Opera Gala'

Busan City is recruiting opera professionals (season members) to participate in the ‘2023 Busan Opera Season’ from the 15th until April 3rd.

Perspective view of Busan Opera House.

The city is recruiting season members this time to cultivate essential professionals (opera chorus, orchestra, dance troupe, etc.) for operating the Busan Opera House as a production-centered theater and to establish an opera production system at the performance venue.

The recruitment fields include chorus, orchestra, and support staff, with additional recruitment for the dance field planned later depending on the production.

Applicants must be under 39 years old (born after March 1, 1983, with some exceptions) and major in the relevant field, including those expected to graduate who have completed six or more semesters. Extra points will be given to applicants from the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions.

Detailed information about the recruitment fields can be found on the Busan City website.

Applications must be submitted via email by 6 p.m. on the 28th. Practical exams/interviews will be held on April 10th for the orchestra field and on April 11th for the chorus and support staff fields.

Successful season members will have the opportunity to participate in four performances of two productions in the ‘2023 Busan Opera Season’: the full-length opera Tosca (conducted by Kim Hyun-su / directed by Jeong Seon-young) produced by Busan Cultural Center (CEO Lee Jeong-pil), and the concert opera Lucia di Lammermoor (conducted by Kwon Min-seok / directed by Lee Hoe-soo) produced by Geumjeong Cultural Center (Director Kang Chang-il). Additionally, to enhance the skills and capabilities of the season members, they will also participate in the ‘Opera Gala’ concert preview at the Busan International Art Center (conducted by Kim Bong-mi / chorus conducted by Kim Kang-gyu).

The performances involving opera professionals (season members) are scheduled as follows: ▲ June 13, 2023, at Busan Citizens Hall Grand Theater, Busan International Art Center Preview Concert ‘Opera Gala’ / produced by Busan City ▲ August 26?27, 2023, at Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater, full-length opera Tosca / produced by Busan Cultural Center ▲ September 22?23, 2023, at Geumjeong Cultural Center Geumbit Nuri Hall, concert opera Lucia di Lammermoor / produced by Geumjeong Cultural Center.

Unlike last year, when the operation of the Busan Opera Season and the cultivation of season members were entrusted to the Busan Cultural Center, this year the city will directly promote the professional workforce development project and operate the two projects separately but cooperatively.

The direction for operating the season members this year was decided after gathering opinions from experts in opera, orchestra, music, dance, and participants of the 2022 Busan Opera Season.

For the operation committee managing the season members, the following were appointed after consultation with the season members advisory committee: ▲ Artistic Director Kim Bong-mi (current Artistic Director of United Philharmonic) ▲ Chorus Director Kim Kang-gyu (current Artistic Director of Busan International Choir Festival) ▲ Collaborative Director Hong Ki-jung (current Head of String Section, Busan Music Association).

Kim Ki-hwan, Director of the Culture and Sports Bureau of Busan City, stated, “The ‘Busan Opera Season’ and ‘Opera Professional Workforce Development’ projects are core initiatives to establish a production theater system at the Busan Opera House. We plan to nurture young artists in the region before the opening to lay the foundation for a thriving cultural and artistic ecosystem. We ask for the interest and participation of many young and talented artists.”

For more details, please check the Busan City website or contact by phone.