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:
Here are some key dates for this academic year:
Saturday 3 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)
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
Wednesday 27 May 2026
Audition Date
Friday 12 June 2026
How to apply
Complete the application form.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Young Performers Studio team via yps@operanorth.co.uk
*Two fully-funded places will be available, as well as partial bursaries, to support young people facing financial barriers. Payment plans will also be available, please see FAQs for more information.
In order to apply, please complete the following three steps:
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.
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:
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.
Howard Opera Centre
8 Harrison St, Leeds LS1 6PA
