The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is delighted to announce the launch of a fully integrated international Opera School, delivered in association with Welsh National Opera.
Chanae Curtis in RWCMD’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, March 2016
The opera 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.
“This is an exciting new stage in the relationship between Wales’ National Opera Company, and its National Conservatoire, formalizing a partnership that has grown ever more fruitful over the last decade,” said Hilary Boulding, Principal of the Royal Welsh College.
“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.“
“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.”
Oscar Castellino in WNO 2016 Youth Opera production, Kommilitonen!
The opera school draws 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.
“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
The world-class training in opera performance already offers access to training by leading international artists, side-by-side opportunities for instrumentalists with WNO Orchestra, and WNO orchestral residencies within the College.
The partnership’s integrated approach to opera training ensures that it will also provide professional experience for designers, stage managers and arts managers. Production roles are available with both WNO and Cardiff Theatrical Services, which is not only the company’s in-house workshop but also supplies scenery to leading performing companies around the world.
In addition the new opera school will offer opportunities for emerging artists within WNO rehearsals and productions, and specialist training in repetiteurship for pianists. There will be opportunities for trainee composers and conductors and the ability to tour small scale productions. The opera school will also incorporate a new Masters programme for trainee opera directors.
The opera school brochure is available here.
Editors notes
Launching the new opera school this year also ties in with the College’s current fundraising campaign that will remember Sir Geraint Evans. 2017 marks 25 years since Sir Geraint’s death and over the next two years the College will focus on creating a lasting fund that will provide scholarships in his name.
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