Opera North Young Performers Studio

September 2026 – July 2027

This year-long programme seeks to inspire, nurture and guide eight talented young singers from the North of England on their journey to studying music at a conservatoire or university.

It aims to help dedicated young musicians who are facing barriers accessing musical training at an appropriate level, including supporting those from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in the professional classical music world. Since the programme launched in 2024, we’re delighted that our Young Performers have successfully auditioned and been offered places to study Classical singing at the following institutions: Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College of Music & the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.

The programme will include a mixture of group and one-to-one sessions, based at the Howard Opera Centre in Leeds. It will be designed to complement participants’ existing singing lessons, where applicable.

An individual learning plan and schedule will be created for each student, with support and oversight from Marie Claire Breen (Vocal Animateur), and input and guidance throughout the year from Opera North’s full-time staff, as well as guest performers and creatives.

The Young Performers will:

Receive 1:1 coaching sessions throughout the year
Work with an Opera North accompanist on solo repertoire, building towards a final recital in July at the Howard Assembly Room
Participate in performance classes to gain valuable performance experience and receive support and insight from other Opera North Young Performers
Receive online and in-person support with conservatoire applications, personal statement writing, regular review of individual learning plan and goals
Receive support in creating recordings for auditions and applications and entering music festivals
Receive language coaching from experts
Observe Opera North mainstage rehearsals and live performances
Be awarded a place in the Opera North Youth Chorus for the 26-27 season

Here are some key dates for this academic year:

Saturday 12 September 2026
Saturday 3 October
Saturday 7 November

Saturday 9 January 2027
Saturday 6 February
Saturday 6 March
Saturday 8 May
Saturday 5 June

July – Final recital (Date TBC)

Price

£2000 per year (2 x fully funded places available)*

Venue

Howard Opera Centre

Eligibility
Open to College, Sixth Form and University (Undergraduate) aged singers at approximately Grade 6+, who aren’t already enrolled on a full-time Music degree or programme. Please refer to the FAQs section for more information.

Applications are particularly encouraged from young musicians from under-represented ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as young people living with a disability or with caring responsibilities.

Applicants are either expected to have Grade 5 theory, or be willing to undertake additional sessions in order to achieve this.

Application deadline
2027–28 applications will open in January 2027 for auditions in the spring

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Young Performers Studio team via yps@operanorth.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

We encourage applications from young people at College, Sixth form and Undergraduate level who sing at a high standard (approximately Grade 6+ level), and who plan to apply to study music full-time in the future but are facing barriers to accessing the right support and/or tuition.

What can I expect on audition day?

You will be asked to perform two contrasting, own-choice, accompanied pieces to a panel. The panel will be made up of a vocal specialist and a programme lead.

You will be asked a series of questions as part of the audition; these questions may be things like:

Tell us about your musical aspirations
What support do you feel you need to reach your next musical goals?

Are there bursaries available?

Yes, two places will be fully funded and there are bursaries available to those facing financial barriers. There will also be opportunity for a payment plan to spread payments out over the course of the year.

Where is the Howard Opera Centre?

Howard Opera Centre
8 Harrison St, Leeds LS1 6PA

The words Opera North in lower case, one on top of the other in white rounded font with a line of space down the centre of each letter

The words Opera North in lower case, one on top of the other in white rounded font with a line of space down the centre of each letter