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RWCMD & WNO Launch Opera School

The Royal Welsh College is launching a fully integrated international opera school, in association with Welsh National Opera.

The school will provide a unique training environment across all disciplines of opera performance and production – from singers and instrumentalists to conductors, directors, repetiteurs, stage managers and designers.

Oscar Castellino in WNO 2016 Youth Opera production Kommilitonen!

 

“Working together, the Royal Welsh College and WNO will provide an opera training school that will enable emerging artists to train alongside some of the leading figures in opera today,” says Hilary Boulding, Principal of the Royal Welsh College.

The opera school brings together a number of existing strands of activity, led by the College’s inspirational staff, members of Welsh National Opera and influential collaborators from the wider opera world.

Students will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with artists and staff at WNO and gain professional experience and training from the company.

The partnership will also offer opportunities for emerging artists in WNO rehearsals and productions, as well as touring small-scale productions and a new Masters programme for opera directing.

“The immense value to the company of working with the Royal Welsh College is a no-brainer really,” explains David Pountney, Artistic Director of Welsh National Opera and Fellow of the Royal Welsh College,

“As a world class opera company, we need the best possible access to emerging talent, and there is no better way to gain that than by working directly with the growers.

But we are keenly aware that the benefits flow both ways; that the close involvement of a professional opera company has the potential to add significant depth and relevance to the training.”

“I am excited and inspired by the enthusiasm and confidence with which Wales is nurturing the art form and its next generation of artists.”

Carlo Rizzi, International Chair in Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and Conductor Laureate at Welsh National Opera.

You can access the opera school brochure here.