Apprentice Program

The Apprentice Artists Program is a season-long intensive training program for aspiring young opera singers, with an emphasis on performance. The company firmly believes that singing is a form of emotional communication and not just a technical function undertaken for the sake of itself.

The company attempts to teach this philosophy to the apprentice participants by giving them numerous and varied performance opportunities that are backed by rehearsals that stress content of language, refinement of interpretation, musicality, polishing of ensemble and by providing extended contact with seasoned professionals who share this view of singing.

Sarasota Opera's Apprentice Artists Program consists of 24 professional singers who are graduates of university music schools and conservatories. Some have completed their doctoral studies, choosing this path towards breaking into the highly competitive world of professional opera.

During their stay in Sarasota, the apprentice artists work with the music staff and the stage directors in one-on-one coaching: musical, dramatic and language. The language program uses volunteers who are native-born speakers of the language concerned, an invaluable benefit derived from Sarasota's international community. Apprentices also have opportunities to audition for other opera companies whose representatives attend the season here searching for new talent.

Master classes with the resident staff, guest conductors and guest directors provide more essential guidance and training. The apprentices perform in all the main stage productions and at numerous outreach events in Bradenton, Venice and Sarasota. New this season the Apprentices will perform a concert of operatic excerpts on the stage of the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater with full orchestra.

If you have any questions about the Program, please contact Greg Trupiano, Artistic Administrator at gtrupiano@sarasotaopera.org.

Sarasota Opera 2010 Apprentice Artists

Lindsay Barche,  Soprano Elmhurst, Illinois 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist 2009 Winter Apprentice Artist (debut)	Kaitlin Bertenshaw,  Mezzo-soprano Phoenix, Arizona Sarasota Opera debut	Christian Bowers,  Baritone Hankins, New York Sarasota Opera debut	John Buffett,  Baritone Hudson, OH Sarasota Opera debut
Rebekah Diaz,  Soprano The Bronx, New York 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist 2008 Winter Apprentice Artist (debut)	Carl DuPont,  Bass-baritone West Palm Beach, Florida Sarasota Opera debut	Christopher Filipowicz,  Bass Michigan City, Indiana 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist 2009 Winter Apprentice Artist (debut)	Joseph Flaxman,  Baritone Succasunna, New Jersey Sarasota Opera debut
John Green,  Tenor Lewisville, TX Sarasota Opera debut	Bernard D. Holcomb,  Tenor Detroit, Michigan 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist 2009 Winter Studio Artist (debut)	Youna Jang,  Soprano Seoul, Korea Sarasota Opera debut	Bethany Kiral,  Soprano Jefferson City, MO Sarasota Opera debut
Sarah Larsen, Mezzo-soprano Roseville, Minnesota Sarasota Opera debut	Caitlin McKechney,  Lake Bluff, Illinois Mezzo-soprano 2005 Apprentice Artist (debut)	Patrick McNally,  Baritone Boston, Massachusetts 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist (debut)	Natalie Polito,  Soprano Westmont, IL Sarasota Opera debut
Frédéric Rey, Tenor Portage la Prairie, Canada Sarasota Opera debut	Nicholas Simpson,  Tenor Kansas City, Missouri 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist (debut)	Brandon Snook,  Tenor Dallas, Texas 2009 Fall  Apprentice Artist 2009 Winter Apprentice Artist (debut)	Kimberly Sogioka,  Mezzo-soprano Redlands, California Sarasota Opera debut
Jennifer Townshend,  Soprano Springfield, Ohio Sarasota Opera debut	Steven Uliana,  Tenor Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Sarasota Opera debut	Victoria Vargas,  Mezzo-soprano Brooklyn, New York Sarasota Opera debut	Katherine Werbiansky,  Soprano Tinley Park, Illinois Sarasota Opera debut

 

2011-12 Apprentice Applications

Applications for the 2011-12 Apprentice Program will be available in June 2011.  Please check back here at that time.