How to apply?

The Wexford Factory will train young singers and pianists through intensive masterclasses held by international artists and professionals. The renowned Wexford Festival Opera has become a centre of cultural and educational importance in the international opera world.

The role of talent scouting, which Wexford Festival Opera has cultivated over the years, continues to be one of the strategic goals of its artistic vision. International and renowned artists will be always linked with WFO, which formed a vital step forward in their careers. Following this idea, Wexford Factory has become a great breeding ground for artists employed by Wexford Festival Opera in the various festival events and in an entire opera production expressly dedicated to them.

The collaboration with RIAM (Royal Irish Academy) and TUD (Technological University Dublin) is vital in achieving these aims.

Requirements

The course is aimed at singers and pianists that are of Irish nationality or resident in Ireland.The candidates intending to enrol for selection must meet the following essential requirements:

• Must be under the age of 35, by 31 December 2023
• The Artistic Director may allow exceptions according to merit.
• Irish citizen or resident in Ireland
• A good knowledge of a foreign language French, German, or Italian.
• Priority will be given to Irish singers and pianists. In the event that positions cannot be filled by Irish singers, Wexford Festival Opera will consider international candidates.

The dates for the Wexford Factory are from 1 September to 15 September 2024.

All the lessons and the rehearsals will take place in the National Opera House, Wexford. The work experience element of the course will take place during the 2024 Wexford Festival Opera and will consist of the opera project and other artistic performances within the Festival.

Each participant will receive a scholarship of €1,500 plus travel and accommodation.

The Wexford Factory will be a bi-annual programme and will include masterclasses from belcanto to verismo singing style, art and technique of performance with some of the most illustrious singers, conductors, and vocal coaches of the opera world, exciting lectures and workshops, resulting in a platform for singers and pianists to exercise their performance skills.

Following on from the Wexford Factory at the end of the process, Wexford Festival Opera will produce an opera project, which will be performed during the 2024 Festival in the O’Reilly Theatre.

Subjects

The course includes the following:

• Masterclasses
• Stage Craft
• Body Awareness
• Belcanto style and Technique
• 18th, 19th and 20th Century Opera style and Technique

Professors

Ernesto Palacio, Artistic Director and Head of the Young Artists Programme at the Rossini Opera Festival

Masterclasses

• With leading international singers/pianists

Coaching

• Pianist for preparation and study
• Vocal Coaching for language and style with Carmen Santoro
• Stage Craft and coaching sessions with leading industry professionals

Applications for selection must be marked Wexford Factory and sent to Nora Cosgrave, Director of Artistic Administration, Wexford Festival Opera, High Street, Wexford Y35 FEP3 or by e-mail to the following address: wexfordfactory@wexfordopera.com

Besides the application form, the following documentation must be included:

• specific application form published and downloadable here
• one close-up photograph and one full-length photograph
• the candidate’s CV
• a copy of a valid identification document
• if available, letters of reference

Applications must be sent by 29 May 2023 and will be valid with the date of the email or the postal stamp.

Selection for auditions is subject to the evaluation of the candidate’s CV. This evaluation will be made by the Wexford Factory’s artistic panel, and its judgement will be final.

The candidates selected for audition will be notified by email only.

The auditions will take place in Wexford on 19, 20, 21 June 2023.

For Singers

Audition candidates must prepare three arias. The arias must be sung in the original language and key, including, when applicable, the recitativo and cabaletta. The panel has the right to choose whether to listen to the whole or only part of the program. The Wexford Factory allows candidates to use their own pianist; we, however, will provide a pianist.

For Pianists Singers

Audition candidates must prepare three pieces. The panel has the right to choose whether to listen to the whole or only part of the program.