Applications for 2024 Opera Academies now open. 

As a team, we work hard to ensure that our academies offer coaching and training of the highest quality. These academies are recommended for classically trained singers. You will benefit from an academy:

* if you want to improve the depth and range of your opera performance and broaden your CV

* if you have limited stage experience and want help taking early steps into opera.

* if you are keen to engage in a better quality performance experience than just 'scenes'.

There are a number of ways that distinguish EO Academies from other offerings in the market:

* EOOA participants have the opportunity to learn a role in full.

* Our workshop and rehearsal process is rigorous but supportive, providing appropriate opportunities for the refining of singing technique, language coaching, and the development of stagecraft.

* Performance with a professional ensemble will build your confidence and enhance your musicality - these are vital characteristics if you want to stand out during future auditions.

* Photos taken by a professional photographer will add a vibrant dimension to your profile.

* We have a strong social media presence and we will help you publicise your role and performance.

Our team includes experienced vocal and language coaches and distinguished musicians. They will help you to develop and hone the attributes needed to succeed professionally. This will include:

* Guidance on accurate pronunciation and intelligent use of language;

* Guidance on sensitive and era appropriate musical phrasing and ornamentation;

* Coaching on effective characterisation and emotional persuasiveness;

* Coaching designed to develop awareness of the dramatic potential of movement

* Coaching designed to increase performance confidence.

All these elements maximise the ability of a singer to communicate effectively with an audience.

Each participant will be offered the opportunity to sing at least one full performance of the opera with professional specialised orchestral accompaniment.

Ensemble OrQuesta is committed to ensuring that all its participants feel at ease with the drama and movement being undertaken. We are pleased to announce that from April 2023 Helen May will act as intimacy coordinator for our academies. Helen is our academy manager. In her new role she will also ensure the well-being of our academy participants if they are working on scenes which are emotionally or physically challenging. Helen speaks fluent English and Portuguese.

Those who attend our academies become Ensemble OrQuesta alumni. Ensemble OrQuesta is delighted to offer additional opportunities to its most promising and hard-working alumni.

Firstly, in the realm of OPERA:

Distinguished EOOA alumni have been invited to join the cast of our professional productions. Since 2017, we have taken five professional productions to the Arcola Theatre in London for the well-recognised fringe opera festival, the Grimeborn Festival, and we have also taken four productions to The Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone. These productions have received 4* and 5* reviews (The Observer, The Stage, Opera Magazine, Plays to See, and others). Our 2020 production of La Calisto at The Cockpit received a nomination for an 'OFFIE' Award in the category Best Opera Performance for EOOA alumna Helen May in the role of Calisto. Our 2021 production of Alcina at the Arcola Theatre received an 'OFFIE' nomination for EOOA alumna Poppy Shotts in the role of Oberto. Our 2022 production of L'Incoronazione di Poppea received two OFFIE nominations - one for Opera Production one for Opera Performance.

Secondly, in the realm of ORATORIO:

Ensemble OrQuesta is regularly approached by conductors who are looking for soloists, and we are delighted to be able to recommend our alumni for paid choral society gigs. Sample recent engagements have included: Bach, Christmas Oratorio; Haydn, The Creation; Rossini, Petite Messe Solennelle; Schubert’s Mass in G; Vivaldi Gloria; Mozart Vespers; Handel, Messiah; Verdi, Requiem; Mozart, Coronation Mass; and others.