National Opera Company, Trainee Selection... 'Opportunity for Scholarship at German Opera Theater'

Outstanding Auditionees Selected as Scholarship Recipients at Berlin Deutsche Oper Theater

The National Opera Company is launching a program to nurture global vocal talents who will shine on the international stage.

A scene from 'La Traviata.' [Photo by National Opera Company]

On the 18th, the Opera Company announced that it will hold auditions to select trainees for the first half of the '2024 National Opera Studio.' This program is designed to cultivate practical opera talents.

This year, outstanding auditionees will have the opportunity to be selected as scholarship students at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany. To this end, Christoph Seippel, the artistic director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, will visit Korea to personally conduct the evaluations.

Selected trainees of the National Opera Studio will receive a monthly stipend of 1.5 million KRW during the five-month training period. Upon completing the program, they will perform at graduation concerts in July and December of next year.

Those who complete the course with excellent results may take on roles such as supporting roles, minor roles, covers, and chorus parts in the Opera Company's regular performances. Participation as assistant directors or assistant conductors in production staff is also possible. Outstanding graduates of 2023 gained stage experience through productions like 'Il Trovatore' and 'La Traviata.'

The trainee selection is divided into four categories: ▲vocal performance ▲music coaching (pianist) ▲stage directing ▲conducting. Applications will be accepted over four days from the 26th to the 29th.

Through the first round of in-person auditions and the second round of in-person auditions and interviews, 45 trainees will be selected. For the directing and conducting categories, the first round will be conducted online.

Applicants must not be affiliated with any management agency, must be able to complete the entire training period, have received specialized education equivalent to a university degree or higher, and be 33 years old or younger as of the second evaluation date. The training will take place over five months from March to July next year.

The selection of scholarship students for the Deutsche Oper Berlin will be conducted after the second evaluation, targeting those proficient in German or English. Selected scholarship students will work at the Deutsche Oper Berlin for ten months starting from October 2024 as scholarship recipients of the National Opera Company.

Choi Sang-ho, director of the National Opera Company, said, "The National Opera Company is leading talent development by establishing a systematic education system as well as conducting performance projects. Since the program is designed to provide various experiences not only domestically but also abroad, we hope that vocal talents will fully demonstrate their skills on the global stage."