Opera North Children's Chorus

The Opera North Children’s Chorus (ONCC) provides boys and girls aged 8–11 with exciting opportunities to further their musical education and talent through the support of a professional opera company.

Expert training and guidance provided through weekly rehearsals enables children to develop outstanding vocal technique and musicianship skills whilst making new friends and developing a life-long love of singing. Members also work with professional directors and movement specialists to develop skills in drama and stagecraft.

The Children’s Chorus performs throughout the year both locally and nationally, often alongside the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North and other professionals. Previous performances included ‘Myth and Legends’ at the Southbank Centre, ‘Songs of Love and Battle’ at Leeds and Huddersfield Town Hall and ‘Don’t Call a Dragon a Worm!’ at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond. Repertoire includes both secular and sacred music from a variety of genres, with a particular focus on classical music/opera.

Members of the Children’s Chorus are regularly invited to audition for mainstage productions.

Entry is by audition, but we are looking for potential and welcome singers of all levels of experience. We offer financial assistance to ensure that costs do not create a barrier to taking part.

Price

£50 per term. Bursaries available

Venue

Howard Opera Centre

Times
Every Wednesday between 5pm and 6.30pm during term time (from September 2021)

Auditions
The next round of auditions will take place on Wednesday 19 January 2022 between 5pm and 7pm at the Howard Opera Centre. Make sure you register an interest before 10 January 2022.

Any questions?
Please contact youthcompany@operanorth.co.uk

How to become a member

Step 1: Register and interest

Let us know that you are interested in auditioning by following the ‘Register an interest’ button above and filling in your details. The deadline to register an interest is the end of April for a September start.

Step 2: Hear about the audition process

At the beginning of May, we will be in touch with all the details about the audition process. We usually ask candidates to send a video of them singing a song they love and to read a text we have selected. We will then invite them to meet in person for an informal audition.

Step 3: Complete a registration form

Successful candidates will be invited to fill in a registration form and to join the Children’s Chorus weekly rehearsals.

We welcome applications from primary school students aged 8 to 11. No previous experience is needed.

Yes. We want to ensure that costs do not create a barrier to taking part and are able to offer financial assistance to those who wouldn’t be able to join without support. Please get in touch to see if you are eligible for a bursary place.

Participants should arrive no more than 10 minutes before their allocated time and wait outside the building, always keeping 2m distance to other participants
Temperature checks are taken upon arrival
Participants are asked to wear masks
Following government guidelines, each session will have a maximum of 15 participants
There will always be 2m distance between participants in the rehearsal room and windows will be kept open to allow ventilation