Dear young artists, The Opera Studio of the Slovak National Theatre announces an audition for the two-year cycle of TS: September 2025 - June 2027.
Become a member of our Opera Studio, we kindly invite you to apply for the audition, which takes place in two rounds:
The 1st round: on-line, until 25. 4. 2025
The 2nd round: in person, 11. 5. 2025 at 11.00 h, Opera SND
Conditions for admission to the audition:
- student or graduate of a music education institution in the field of opera singing
- age 20-37 years
- registration for the audition is possible by submitting a correctly filled in application form according to the instructions on the website of the Opera Studio of the SND by April 25, 2025 (incl.)
- the candidate must meet all the conditions of the competition and participate in both rounds of the competition
The audition process:
- The 1st round will be conducted on-line. By the deadline of April 25, 2025 (including), the applicant has to send Registration form for the SND Opera Studio and an video recording of his/her own interpretation of two arias of different styles, accompanied by piano or orchestra, via YouTube or Vimeo, to the email address michaela.sucha@snd.sk.
- The results of the 1st round will be assessed by April 30, 2025. If, after the first round, the applicant receives an email from the organiser (michaela.sucha@snd.sk) stating that he/she is proceeding to the 2nd round, he/she is obliged to confirm his/her interest in participating in the 2nd round within three working days by email to the same address
- The 2nd round is to be held in person in the new building of the Slovak National Theatre at Pribinova 17 in Bratislava on May 11, 2025, at 11.00 a.m., in the Opera and Ballet Hall of the Slovak National Theatre. Registration of candidates will take place from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. at the reception desk of the Opera and Ballet of the Slovak National Theatre
- the candidate sings three operatic arias (different from 1st round) from three different stylistic periods in front of the Opera Studio commission
- the candidate performs the arias in the original tonality (untransposed) and in the original language
- the candidate may sing the arias accompanied by his/her own accompanist or by the accompanist of the Slovak National Theatre Opera
The second round of auditions is non-anonymous and non-public.
The audition committee may decide that the candidate needs to interpret only one of the arias he/she submitted and may stop the candidate during the singing if necessary.
Audition results:
- the decisions of the audition committee are final and irrevocable
- the results of the 2nd round will be published electronically in an anonymised form on the website of the Opera Studio of the Slovak National Theatre on May 12, 2025, and the successful candidates will be informed about the result by email
For more information:
- travel, accommodation and other costs associated with taking part in the auditions are to be borne by the candidates
- by joining the Opera Studio, the applicant becomes an official member of the Opera Studio for a period of two theatre seasons; he/she confirms his/her acceptance by signing a contract
- a member of the Opera Studio receives financial remuneration in case of performing at concerts or in performances of the Slovak National Theatre. A member of the Opera Studio does not receive any monthly allowance from the SND
- the two-year study programme in the Opera Studio of the Slovak National Theatre can be undertaken only once
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The SND Opera Studio has been a part of the SND Opera since 2019, it was established by the SND Opera director and conductor Rastislav Štúr. Thus, together with the director and dramaturge Marek Mokoš, they laid the foundations of an artistic-educational project, the intention of which is to work systematically with young opera singers, to prepare them for an artistic career and to introduce them in detail to the environment and the work of our emblematic professional theatre scene.
In the two-year cycle of the SND Opera Studio, vocalists will attend workshops focused on: vocal-technical skills, interpretive uniqueness of different stylistic periods, working with a conductor and director, acting and movement-scene creation of selected arias and opera characters, staging at least two opera characters according to adequate vocal disciplines, which will expand their interpretive skills and personal repertoire. Subsequently, they present the acquired skills in public performances. Members of the opera studio are cast in minor roles in performances from the repertoire of the SND Opera over the course of two seasons. They perform at concerts of the Slovak National Theatre Opera and at concerts of the SND Opera Studio.
Students in the two-year cycle of opera study receive detailed and systematic training with a vocal coach and accompanist as they learn new repertoire. After the completion of the whole cycle, the participants of the School will receive a certificate of completion of the SND Opera Studio.
The masterclasses of the SND Opera Studio are led by prominent personalities of cultural and operatic life. During the three-day intensive course, the lecturers focus in-depth on specific performance issues and pass on their valuable experience to young aspiring artists. Among the lecturers who have accepted our invitation to the SND Opera Studio are personalities such as Gabriela Beňačková, Pavol Breslik, Markéta Cukrová, Enrico Dovico, Marco Guidarini, Dalibor Jenis, Zdeněk Klauda, Mariusz Kwiecień, Peter Mikuláš, Andrea Miltnerová, Adam Plachetka, David Radok, Emília Vášáryová and others.
Head of the SND Opera Studio: Mgr. art. Jolana Fogašová, ArtD. / jolana.bubnic.fogasova@snd.sk
Project manager Michaela Suchá / michaela.sucha@snd.sk
Vocal Coach Mgr. art. Jolana Fogašová, ArtD., Mgr. art. Adriana Galla Kohútková, ArtD.
Répetiteur: Mgr. art. Andrea Bálešová, PhD.
Members of the 3rd cycle of the Opera Studio of the Slovak National Theatre:
Proud partner of the SND Opera Studio
