Auditions – Schools Company Victoria

Opera Australia’s Oz Opera welcomes applications from opera singers for its 2009 Victorian Schools Company, which tours to primary schools around Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Schools Company conditions include:
- a maximum 24 weeks of touring, which may include up to 5 weeks of regional touring
- a maximum of 3 shows per day, up to 12 shows per week
- the casting of swing and covers so that singers have some cover days
- the requirement of all company members to bump the set and equipment in and out each venue
- the obligation of artists with a valid driver’s licence to share driving company vehicles
All conditions are outlined in the Performers’, Music and Technical Staff Agreement 2008-10.
The Victorian Schools Company production for 2009 is The Sound Garden, a contemporary Australian opera devised by David Montgomery, which combines traditional opera with African, Middle Eastern and contemporary percussion.  The performance is approximately 45 minutes and is sung in English.  The roles are as follows:
Catherine:                    Soprano
Cassandra:                   Mezzo
Female Swing:             Soprano/Mezzo
Ricardo:                       Baritone
Male Swing:                 Baritone (0.6 FTE)

The contract period is from 20^th April to 16^th October 2009.  Singers must be based in Melbourne for the duration of the contract.
Experience in opera performance is preferred.

To gain an audition, interested artists should send a copy of their CV, headshot and application form (which can be downloaded from www.ozopera.com.au) by e-mail to Margaret.Easton@opera-australia.org.au, by fax on (02) 9699 3184 or by post to PO Box 291, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012.
Auditions will run for approximately 10 minutes.  An accompanist will be provided by Oz Opera, however you are welcome to provide your own.  You will need to bring a copy of your music.  Two arias must be prepared, with at least one in English.

DATE:              25 & 28 November 2008
TIME:               Between 2.30-5.30pm
Audition times will be allocated in 10-minute slots on a first-come first-served basis, and no changes will be made to those times except in exceptional circumstances.
PLACE:            25 November at the Main Rehearsal Room at the Arts Centre

28 November at Melbourne Opera Centre, Cnr Fawkner and Fanning Streets, Southbank.

For further information, please call (03) 9685 3721 or e-mail ozopera@opera-australia.org.au