EO Opera Academy

Applications for 2026 Opera Academies now open. 

To apply for an opera academy place, please send a CV and a video or audio recording to ensembleorquesta@outlook.com.
Roles are allocated continuously upon receipt of suitable applications; for that reason there is no application deadline. 
Please note that roles in academies fill up quickly, so you are advised to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

​Applicants will be considered without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

See full list of 2026 Academies below, including dates, repertoire, venue and fees.

Unlock your potential.

Founded in 2014 by Marcio da Silva, Ensemble OrQuesta Opera Academy is dedicated to the training of the new generation of opera singers. Opera academies, which are held in a number of places in the UK across the year, give many talented young singers from all over the world the opportunity to perform complete roles in fully staged productions, in the original language, with professional ensemble accompaniment.

Singers benefit from ten days of rigorous tuition and training from the EO team of multi-skilled professionals, receiving coaching on technique, language, style, stagecraft, and movement. The carefully planned intensive programme culminates in two public performances. The exceptional quality of these academies has earned EOOA a flourishing reputation as an outstanding international young artist programme. 

Many of the singers who now perform in Ensemble OrQuesta's professional productions received their early training in stagecraft during an opera academy, and many of our new productions underwent the first stage of their development during these intensive courses.

We recognise that taking part in an academy or YAP intensive course is demanding both in terms of time and financial investment. We are fully committed to ensuring that all participants can make the most of the experience offered to them. 

We aim to provide as much information below regarding the scope, benefits and support levels of the Academies including testimonials from previous alumni, but if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Upcoming Academies

  • Mozart: Magic Flute (13th-22nd August) Hastings

    The Ensemble OrQuesta team are putting together another academy of Mozart's Magic Flute, this time with a revival of Marcio da Silva's 2019 minimalist production.

    Rehearsals will take place in Hastings from 13th to 21st August with a single performance on the 22nd of August, at Christ Church, St Leonards on Sea.

    This academy will be in partnership with the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and the performance will be accompanied by an HPO Ensemble of 7 musicians.

    Participating singers will be coached on style, movement and German. The dialogues will be performed in English, while the music will be performed in German.

    The academy will be led by EO’s artistic director Marcio da Silva. The academy cast will be double cast with company members who will perform the show at the Arcola Theatre for Grimeborn 2026 in the following week. Academy members can opt to sing chorus/cover for the London performances.

    Available Roles: 1st Lady (Soprano), 2nd Lady (Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano), 3rd Lady (Mezzo-Soprano), Papagena (Soprano'/Mezzo-Soprano), Tamino (Tenor), Queen of the Night (Soprano), Papageno (Baritone), Sarastro (Bass)

    Performance date: 22nd August

    Venue: Christ Church, St Leonards on Sea

    Tuition fee: £1,000 (does not include accommodation - payments can be made in instalments)

    Application: To apply for an opera academy place, please send a CV and a video or audio recording to ensembleorquesta@outlook.com.
    Roles are allocated continuously upon receipt of suitable applications; for that reason there is no application deadline.

    Apply

Italian Recitatives

Ensemble OrQuesta Founder and Artistic Director, Marcio da Silva, takes a look at common mistakes made when studying and learning Italian Recitatives, focussing on examples from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.

Meet the Academy Team.

  • Marcio da Silva

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Read Bio

  • Predrag Gosta

    CONDUCTOR | HARPSICHORD

    Read Bio

  • Helen May

    LYRIC SOPRANO | EO COMPANY MANAGER | EOOA MANAGER

    Read Bio

I have now been in two productions with EO and highly recommend them to anyone looking to learn a role, gain industry experience, and dive into physical theatre alongside singing beautiful baroque music.

My first role with EO was actually the first full role I ever performed, marking a major milestone for me. I was encouraged and in good hands with Marcio. Coming well-prepared with the music allowed me to focus on the direction. This is my biggest tip for anyone looking to sing with EO: Marcio's direction is detailed and clear. Initially, it can be challenging to remember where we are in the music while also concentrating on the direction, but with time and lots of practice, we all make it happen. I love that the direction has a deeper meaning and the staging is often metaphoric.

We not only learn about working together and singing roles, but we also delve deep into the essence of a piece. The ten days are transformative; as a performer, you will find a way to embody the character and move with the ensemble to create the piece. Ensemble work is just as important as the solo arias and recitatives. Last year, I was more focused on my own role as Oberto in Handel's Alcina, as it was my first full role. This year, singing Ino in Semele, I had more time to focus on my work within the ensemble. I learned important stage tips from Marcio and other more experienced singers, such as walking into the heels to improve posture on stage, which has helped me tremendously.

You leave the academy feeling confident in your ability to sing roles in full operas. Before, this may have seemed overwhelming, but now I am actively doing it. Today, I am learning Frasquita in Carmen, and last year after EO, I was learning Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera. EO has given me so much confidence as I approach my master's at the RNCM. I also gained valuable knowledge on ornamentation, learning that there are many rules and it's best to be open-minded and have some suggestions without getting stuck on specific ornaments.

The other performers are often international, coming from Germany, Italy, and France. It's been great to meet other performers and get tips for future work. Thank you so much, Marcio and Helen—I can't wait for the next performance together.

Ruth Harley, Soprano, July 2024

I've now done seven productions with Ensemble OrQuesta Opera Academy, and each one has taken me to a new level of artistry, strengthening my performance confidence and stagecraft. Marcio and the team always assign me roles that fit my voice and capabilities well, and in the rehearsal process, help me refine the role so I am well-prepared for the performances. The team is caring and supportive, creating an excellent environment that sets up the entire cast for a strong production each time. It's a wonderful and safe space to learn, grow, and perform!

Jay Rockwell, Bass, September 2024

I highly recommend these high-octane opera academies directed by Marcio da Silva whose indefatigable talents often present students with concepts and stylistic conventions that take them way beyond their comfort zones. It’s always a massive learning curve with always a wonderful result. With performances happening in the last 2 days of a 10-day course there’s barely time to go for a wander on the beach! Intense but hugely rewarding! A big thank you to everyone in the EOOA team.

Chris Swithinbank, Bass-Baritone, September 2024

I initially heard about the EO Academies from a friend of mine who had just completed one of your programs. They recommended the EO Academies to me as a great environment to study a role and perform it as well. That suggestion, in combination with my own interest to further explore early music performance, led me to apply for the program. Through my time with the EO team I’ve performed two major roles, that of Morgana in Handel’s Alcina and the title role in Handel’s Semele. As a result, I’ve gained valuable stage experience thanks to maestro and stage director Marcio Da Silva and his highly artistic, edgy, and inspiring minimalistic productions. I have also learned more about Baroque performance practice and technique thanks to, maestro and harpsichordist, Predrag Gosta’s valuable guidance. Performing at a black box theater in London was an amazing opportunity and an important experience in my musical journey. I’m very grateful to have worked with such an excellent team of musicians. I couldn’t recommend this program more.

Maria Margiolakou, Sorpano, September 2024

FAQs

  • 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.

Previous Academies.