The Program

Misson

"To provide world class training to gifted artists and offer accessible high quality performances to our community".

 

​A Non-Profit Organization with a mission to provide world class training to gifted artists and to offer accessible high quality performances to our community. At Chicago Summer Opera, we offer training in role preparation, vocal technique, dramatic preparation, audition technique, and stage movement. Each singer either receives a full role or cover role. Productions are staged and performed with orchestra. Covers will have a cover run staged with piano. This combination of training helps developing singers grow immensely in a short period of time.

In the past 10 seasons we’ve had the privilege of having several leading world class voice teachers, coaches, performers, directors and conductors join us as faculty and/or guest master classes technicians. They've include: Emanuele Andrizzi, Lloyd Arriola, Darwin Aquino, Anthony Barrese, Codrut Birsan, Emily Birsan, Elizabeth Byrne, Nicole Cabell, John DeMain, Michael Ehrman, Julia Faulkner, Allan Glassman, Amy Hutchison, Quinn Kelsey, Sunny Joy Langton, Alexandra LoBianco, Francesco Milioto, Andreas Mitisek, Steven Mosteller, Andrew Owens, Yasuko Oura, Matthew Ozawa, Philip Pierce, Susanna Phillips, Derrick Sanders, W. Stephen Smith, Michael Sylvester, and Pedro Yanez.

Key Features 

 

Key Features 

Voice Lessons
Weekly private voice lessons. The student has the opportunity to go over audition material and roles. Major advantages include networking, a new perspective and fine tuning their instrument.

Coaching
The student has the opportunity to go over audition material and roles. Major advantages include fine tuning language, musical and dramatic abilities.

Master Classes
A chance to witness or take part in workshops conducted by professionals such as conductors, directors, voice teachers and opera stars.

Workshops: Dramatic & Career

An opportunity for the students to break down their roles or audition material from a dramatic perspective. The course focuses on understanding and building a character.The career workshop looks to provide artists with information tied to launching a career. Materials covered are young artist programs, agent/manager relationships, taxes, promotion, email etiquette, European competition and audition circuit and much more.

Media

Main stage full opera performances with orchestra will be professional filmed. Professional pictures will be taken at all dress rehearsals. Previous opera performances here.

Performing a Role with Orchestra
An invaluable experience that is the culmination of all the artistic factors that go into performing an opera. Each singer either receives a full role or cover role. Productions are staged and performed with orchestra. Covers will have a cover run staged with piano. ALL ROLES STILL AVAILABLE! Chicago Summer Opera only starts largely casting after the final deadline on January 8, 2024.

*Orchestration: Baroque operas will have five string players, a piano, and three instruments of the conductor's choosing, depending on the piece. This is a new addition to the program this year. For all other operas, the orchestration will be reduced at the conductor's discretion, as the company has done in the past. The only exception is 'Albert Herring,' which will have a full chamber orchestra.

Previous opera performances can be watched here.

2024 Season

June 20 - July 14, 2024 (Session 1)

Orfeo ed Euridice, Gluck/Dido & Aeneas, Purcell

The Consul, Menotti

Hansel und Gretel, Humperdink

July 16 - August 11, 2024  (Session 2)

Giulio Cesare, Handel

Albert Herring, Britten

Don Giovanni, Mozart

TUITION

 

Tuition Fee
$3,250 per session

  • Audition based scholarship available. Over $150,000 in scholarship was given for the 2023 season.

  • Financial aid available

  • ​Work study available

Payments

  • $850 Deposit due 7 days after acceptance. (Non Refundable)

  • Payment 1: Due 30 Days after Acceptance

  • Payment 2: Due 60 Days after Acceptance

  • Other Payment Plans Available Upon Request

Dates
Session 1

June 20 - July 14, 2024

Session 2
July 16 - August 11, 2024 

Refunds

  • More than 90 days before the start of the program - 100% Refunded (Deposit is Non Refundable)

  • 90 - 60 days before the start of the program - 50% Refunded (Deposit is Non Refundable)

  • 60 days before the start of the program - 0% Refunded (Deposit is Non Refundable)