Royal Ballet and Opera Youth Opera Progr
About
The RBO's Youth Opera programmes provide children aged 7 to 13 with rigorous music and drama training, creative projects and the chance to perform in world leading opera productions with The Royal Opera.
RBO Youth Opera is divided into two strands:
RBO Young Voices (Ages 7-8)
RBO Young Voices is a singing programme for 7-8 year olds, developing participants' vocal control, musical literacy and performing skills. As well as performing at concerts and other events at the Royal Opera House, participants gain a grounding in the skills required to progress into our older ensemble, the RBO Youth Opera Company.
RBO Youth Opera Company (Ages 9-13)
RBO Youth Opera Company is our in-house chorus of 9 to 13 year olds. We offer participants all-round training in the performing arts, covering vocal technique, language coaching, acting and stage craft, musical literacy and creative processes for developing new work. The RBO YOC also has the opportunity to audition for the children’s chorus in one Royal Opera Company production per season.
Apply
Applications to join the Youth Opera programme for the 2024/2025 season are now closed. Look out for details about next season’s auditions later in the year.
We hold annual audition workshops at the Royal Opera House for all children aged 7-11 with a passion for singing and performing.
We welcome applications from all enthusiastic young singers and performers aged 7 to 11 years old. We encourage applicants from young people of all backgrounds, especially those who are from a global majority background. The recruitment process and programme is inclusive and accessible, and we invite applicants to contact us with any queries or requests for reasonable adjustments.
RBO Youth Opera Auditions
We invite applications from all enthusiastic young singers and performers aged 7 to 11 years old. We particularly welcome applications from boys, those who are from a global majority background and/or those who are disabled, as they are under-represented within our programmes. Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
- A passion for and commitment to singing and good vocal control
- An interest in drama and performing skills
- The ability to collaborate well with others and follow direction
The Application
Before applying, we ask that you watch the introductory video and then complete our ‘What is Opera’ digital workshop at home or in your classroom.
Complete the form below to express your child’s interest in auditioning. The form requires you to submit a short 30-second video of your child singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. All applicants will be contacted regardless of outcome.
Applications to join the Youth Opera programme for the 2024/2025 season are now closed. Look out for details about next season’s auditions later in the year.
The Audition
- Round 1 audition: successful applicants will be invited to a one-hour audition workshop at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Approximately 120 children will be invited to participate in the first audition workshop.
- Round 2 audition: successful applicants from the first round of auditions will be invited to attend a call back audition, during which the final selections will be made.
Groups will be split into 30 children per audition. Two Royal Ballet and Opera artists will run music and drama-based games and will lead singing activities. We aim for our audition workshops to be fun, friendly and relaxed and regardless of the outcome, educational and enjoyable for all.
Latest work
The Sapling
The Sapling was a brand new opera commissioned by the Royal Opera House for the RBO Youth Opera Company, written by Jonathan Ainscough and composed by Jonathan Briggin in collaboration with the YOC.
Performed in the Linbury Theatre in July 2023, The Sapling tells its story through the words and voices of the Youth Opera Company, supported by professional singers and musicians.
Imagine a world where all living things – humans, animals, trees alike – dwell together in perfect harmony, until a mighty storm changes everything; imagine a world in the shape of a monstrous Tower, where those at the top control the lives and voices of those beneath; imagine a world at the very end of the universe, where the artefacts of the past offer a glimpse of the future… The Sapling spans centuries and generations, crossing time and space to explore the consequences of greed, the oppression of silence and the fragile nature of hope.
The Youth Opera Company is supported by Yvonne and Bjarne Rieber and The Peters Family Foundation Cio
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)