Performances are live this year!

Session 1: RIGOLETTO in Italian

Session 2: DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT in FRENCH

2026 SUMMER PROGRAMS
FOR DEVELOPING OPERA SINGERS

New York Opera Conservatory continues with its 8th summer, continuing its mission with two five- week summer programs. Each session will give you an opportunity to put full leading roles on your resumé. At New York Opera Conservatory, we are committed to being a “trade school” for the opera craft: a hands-on approach where you spend more time doing and less time theorizing. An affordable way for young singers to build their resumes, learn the details of the opera business, and, of course, get work. The show will be a maximum of 4 casts to give opportunities to the most singers. Roles and costs are as follows:

Session 1 (June 8th-July 12th)
Opera: Rigoletto (Verdi, in Italian)

Roles available in Session 1:

Gilda (Soprano Lead) $685
Duke (Tenor Lead) $685
Rigoletto (Baritone Lead) $685
Maddalena (Mezzo/Contralto Lead) $685
Il Conte di Monterone (Baritone or Bass) $300
Sparafucile (bass or baritone large comprimario) $500
Marullo (Tenor or Baritone) $300
Borsa (Tenor) $300
Count Ceprano (Tenor or Baritone) $300
La Contessa Ceprano (Soprano or Mezzo young girl) $300
Giovanna (Soprano older or younger—maid) $300

Session 2 (July 13th- August 16th)
Opera: Daughter of the Regiment (Donizetti, in French)

Roles available for session 2:

Marie (Soprano Lead) $685 Soprano
Tonio (tenor must audition with aria) $685
Sulplice (Bass Lead) $685
La Marquise de Berkenfeld (Mezzo Lead—Mother of Marie) $685
Hortensius (Bass/Baritone-Butler $300
Duchess of Crackenthorp (comedy spoken role)$200
Corporal (Baritone or Tenor) $200
Peasant (Tenor) $100

Each session will also include free coaching of your roles, free lectures on the business of opera, master classes from Metropolitan Opera singers, and working master classes in acting for auditions. Operas will be fully staged and may be quadruple cast if we have the talent to do so. For younger singers, not yet ready for prime time, smaller roles will be available. All activities, rehearsals and lectures are held evenings during the week and Saturday afternoons and classes will be on Saturday mornings. Coachings can be arranged during the days according to your schedule.

Requirements: *Must be currently working with a professional teacher during the session if living locally. Live auditions are NOT encouraged nor needed. *Video auditions (youtube, etc…) are preferable. Cenerentola must submit a coloratura aria. Roles must be memorized before session begins. You must provide your own housing and transportation. If taking the train to rehearsals, we will happily pick you up for rehearsals from the train stations before rehearsals. B&B is usually available and cheaper than a hotel. If going this route, find a place close to Peekskill NY. If finding a room in Manhattan you will want to take the Hudson train line up to Cortlandt or Peekskill from Grand Central—and we will always pick you up when you arrive.

Cost:
Leading Roles: $685 per session; Smaller Roles (see list above) $100-$500
Location:
All activities are less than an hour north of New York City and accessible by train on the Hudson Line from Grand Central Station! Cities include Peekskill, Cortlandt, Croton on Hudson, and Yorktown.

Click Here for the Application