AUDITION DATE
2025 Rochester Audition Date: Thursday, January 30th
PRE-SCREENING AND AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Graduate
Pre-screening: MM applicants in Opera Stage Directing must upload supporting materials with their application to demonstrate their experience in opera directing. Ideally, this would include a video recording of performances or rehearsals. If available, please include artwork and theatrical designs from any projects. Application materials are reviewed, along with the pre-screening recording, and selected applicants will be invited to interview/audition.
MM Opera Stage Directing audition requirements:
- Students will provide a portfolio of support material (resume, CV, video recordings of staged scenes or full productions, production photos or theatrical designs, etc.). Students must show a proficiency in music theory and music history consistent with an incoming voice student. Students whose area of study is not in music must demonstrate music proficiency and provide evidence of research or work related to music.
- The day of the audition and interviews is a full-day affair. The audition consists of directing students in an opera scene structured around a dramatic coaching of an aria. The staging session will last for approximately forty (40) minutes, and the scenes are chosen by the artistic director and directing faculty of Eastman Opera Theatre. Singers in the scene will be prepared and selected from the Eastman School, and will include all characters in the scene (not just the solo singer).
- This session will be followed by an interview with the artistic director and Opera Department faculty. Additional interviews will be scheduled throughout the day with department staff, and the applicant will be introduced to the wide range of resources available to the opera department.
- If a student is interested in receiving secondary voice lessons with a voice professor, they must upload an audition video for the voice faculty to review. This audition video should include three vocal selections in three languages (two from stage works).”