OPERA rcs.ac.uk/opera OPERA Choose to study Opera at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and you will be learning your craft in the only UK conservatoire to offer all of the performing arts within the one campus. You will benefit LIKE from studying alongside production artists, musicians, musical theatre performers and actors, as well as working directly with Scottish Opera through masterclasses and performances. These collaborative NOWHERE ELSE: opportunities make studying opera here truly like nowhere else. The Opera School has a reputation for producing high calibre graduates. Recent graduates include Catriona Morison THE PERFECT (Cardiff Singer of the World winner, 2017), Anush Hovhannisyan (Cardiff Singer of the World finalist, 2017) Svetlina Stoyanova (Neue Stimmen winner, 2017) and the internationally-renowned mezzo soprano, COMBINATION Karen Cargill. OF MUSIC AND DRAMA Master of Music Two years, full-time “At the Alexander Gibson Opera School, we aim to provide a rcs.ac.uk/opera greenhouse learning environment rather than a hothouse, (Opera) designed to equip the young singer of today with the tools required to be a fully-rounded, professional opera performer.”
Head of Opera: Philip White
Why choose us? | Opportunity to learn from guest coaches and Your studies You will also benefit from intensive audition preparation. directors from all over Europe; recent guests We regularly invite guests to work with students to | RCS is recognised as one of the world’s top three Your studies are built around a balanced combination include Seann Alderking, David Cowan, advise on current industry requirements, with students destinations to study the performing arts of drama and music. In addition to vocal lessons, Joyce Fieldsend, Matteo Dalle Fratte, participating in mock auditions and receiving feedback (QS World University Rankings 2021) coaching and performance opportunities, you can Gerhard Gall, David Gowland, Anthony on their performance and CVs. Recent guests include | We have a close relationship with Scottish Opera, expect to study a range of core skills in languages, Negus, Sonja Nerdrum, Rachel Nicholls, Anthony Legge (author of The Art of Auditioning), with students participating in workshops and French, German and Italian repertoire, and acting. Ingrid Surgenor, Jonathon Swinard, Sarah Playfair (Glyndebourne, Garsington), Steve collaborative projects, as well as accessing dress Steven Maughan and Anthony Legge Acting is the ability to bring to life a character using Phillips (Company Manager, the Grange Festival) rehearsals throughout the year following Covid a voice and a body at the service of the imagination. and representatives from Germany’s opera agencies protocols. Many graduates have progressed As a singer, you must work to release your body, free to give their unique industry insight. to join Scottish Opera’s prestigious Emerging your speaking voice, and stimulate your imagination, Artists programme so that, in performance, your entire being is telling a Guest artists | 90 minutes of one-to-one vocal tuition per week story. At the RCS, we see the development of acting Guest directors and conductors work frequently | Acting classes throughout your studies which skills as a fundamental part of a singer’s learning, work within the Opera School and students benefit from lead to a series of Opera Scenes in your first year that goes hand-in-hand with the development of their experience and expertise. Recent guests | Intensive audition preparation where you will the singing voice. include Christian Curnyn and David Roblou grow confident in auditioning for companies A varied programme of performance takes place (Baroque specialists), Matthew Waldren, Lionel across the world throughout the year. Opera Scenes allow students Friend, Anthony Kraus and directors James | Regular one-to-one coaching sessions to experience different repertoire and style, and to Bonas, Jack Furness, Caroline Clegg, Jamie | Two fully-staged operas per year plus one discover their own strengths and weaknesses. Manton, Maxine Braham, Olivia Fuchs, William chamber opera The second year production explores chamber Relton, Ashley Dean, Harry Fehr, Matthew opera repertoire, and the full-scale productions in Eberhardt, Stephen Lawless, Keith Warner | All first year Opera students partake in a role and Julia Hollander. study (normally a Mozart role) the New Athenaeum Theatre provide opportunities to perform and collaborate with artists from across | Frequent visits from professional companies There are many opportunities to participate in RCS and external visiting artists and directors. and agents including Glyndebourne Festival masterclasses. Recent masterclasses include Susan Opera, Scottish Opera, Bayreuth Festival, Additionally, there are performance opportunities with Bullock CBE, Karen Cargill, Simon Keenlyside, Independent Opera, Garsington Opera, Clonter Scottish Opera and regular concert series within RCS. Dame Gwyneth Jones, Dame Felicity Lott, Opera, Berlin Opera Academy, British Youth Opera Professional agents and opera companie are frequent Sir Thomas Allen, John Treleaven, Malcolm and Grange Park Opera visitors, ensuring the Opera School is a busy and Martineau, Rosalind Plowright, Barbara Bonney, | Links with the Royal Opera House, giving you vibrant place to learn. Roderick Williams, Jane Eaglen and Christine access to stage rehearsals, workshops and Brewer. Several of these are regular guests, and not coaching opportunities only work in the ‘traditional’ masterclass format, but also work with students in private sessions. | Excellent record of student successes at international competitions including Cardiff Singer of the World, the Neue Stimmen and Clonter Opera prize MMus/MA Repetiteurship | Patricia MacMahon How to apply Entry requirements programme | Anthony Legge Before you apply, please go to rcs.ac.uk to read full Entrance to RCS is based on talent, potential and Students on this programme will work and study | Ingrid Surgenor details on the music programme you wish to apply ability. We are looking for students who display to, and the application and admissions processes. outstanding potential, dedication and ambition. as part of the internationally reputable Alexander Language Coaches Gibson Opera School, where you will learn and study The standard application deadline is 1 October. | Professor Christopher Underwood French Academic entry requirements all of the core and related skill sets; piano lessons, Late applications made after this date may be languages, coaching and continuo playing. A large | Héloïse Bernard French accepted and those details can be found at | Honours degree (at least 2.2), or its overseas equivalent in a subject area relevant to the part of your training will be in practical sessions, | Sonja Nerdrum French rcs.ac.uk/apply playing for classes, opera scenes rehearsals, full demands of the programme. | Geoffrey TantiItalian All applications must be made through the productions and, where appropriate, conducting. UCAS Conservatoires online admissions service: For more specific entry requirements, including | Matteo Dalle Fratte Italian For more programme information, please visit: ucas.com/conservatoires language requirements, please visit rcs.ac.uk | Helen Lawson German rcs.ac.uk/repetiteurship Our institution code is R58 and the programme Auditions | Gerhard Gall German code for UCAS is 851F. We want you to enjoy the audition process and use Teaching staff Our graduates the opportunity to discover more about RCS and see if it is the right place for you. | Philip White Head of Opera Recent graduates include: Details on the audition/interview process are available | Professor Stephen Robertson | Rebecca Afonwy-Jones online at rcs.ac.uk. This includes information on any Head of Vocal Performance | Peter Auty deadlines, live vs. recorded auditions, repertoire/ | Keith Warner Associate Artist | Dominic Barberi requirements and what to expect following your | Mark Hathaway Lecturer (Acting) Cardiff Singer of the World finalist, 2017 audition/interview. | Duncan Williams Vocal Coach | Jeni Bern Tuition fees and scholarships Voice Lecturers | Lee Bisset Tuition fees can be found at rcs.ac.uk/fees as well | Scott Johnson | Richard Burkhard as information on financial support and scholarships. | Helen Lawson | Karen Cargill | Wilma MacDougall | Michel de Souza | Stuart MacIntyre | Anush Hovhannisyan | Elizabeth McCormack Cardiff Singer of the World finalist, 2017 | Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson | Lisa Milne | Linda Ormiston OBE | Catriona Morison Cardiff Singer of the World winner, 2017 | Iain Paton | Elin Pritchard | Clare Shearer | Jung Soo Yun | Julian Tovey | Svetlina Stoyanova Coaches Neue Stimmen winner, 2017 | Seann Alderking | Professor Timothy Dean | Joyce Fieldsend | David Gowland | Fiona MacSherry | Steven Maughan Contact us If you have any questions about your application, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help you.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3DB Telephone: +44 (0) 141 332 4101 rcs.ac.uk
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