Alaska Artist Development Program
About the Program
A joint project between Anchorage Opera and the University of Alaska Anchorage
May 26 – June 15, 2024
Application deadline: March 15
High School Program application deadline: April 15
Overview
The Artist Development Program emerging from the partnership between the University of Alaska Anchorage and Anchorage Opera seeks to offer a key training program to separate tranches of artists at the high school, college, and emerging professional levels. This three-week residency offers voice lessons, coachings, artistic development classes, and career workshops. The residency will culminate in a series of public performances, including a mainstage performance of Francis Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias, performed in English. All participants will be featured in the chamber opera and everyone will have a chance for a solo presentation in a scene and/or recital during the residency.
Program Faculty
Dr. Mari Hahn, Professor of Music, University of Alaska Anchorage
Will Kelley, Kapellmeister, Theater Bremen
Ben Robinson, General Director, Anchorage Opera
(Additional associate faculty to be announced)
Participation
This residency runs from May 26 to June 15, 2024, with sessions being held in the morning, afternoon, and on occasional evenings. Housing is not provided.
- For the high school division, there is a one-time camp fee of $1,000. Scholarships are available. Participants will receive weekly coachings and voice lessons and will attend the classes outlined in the schedule below.
- For the college division, all participants will be paid a modest stipend and will be expected to assume some duties working with the high school division. Participants will receive weekly coachings and voice lessons and will attend professional development sessions with the staff.
- For the emerging professional division, participants will be paid a modest stipend and will receive a minimum of one coaching per week. Participants in the emerging professional division will assume the main principal roles in the opera.
High School Program Details
The high school program would focus on identifying 15-20 diverse individuals with an interest in studying classical voice during the residency. This tuition-based day program would be built on a 5-6 hour work day, during which singers would participate in the following activities:
-Weekly private voice lesson (60 minutes)
-Weekly private coaching (30 minutes)
-Weekly studio voice class (90 minutes)
-Movement & Acting (60 minutes per day)
-Chorus rehearsal for public mainstage performance (60 minutes per day)
-Staging or recital rehearsal (60-90 minutes per day)
The anticipated schedule for this program would be:
10am-11am Class
11am-12pm Class
12pm-1pm Lunch (not provided)
1pm-2pm Private voice lessons and coachings or free time
2pm-3 or 3:30pm Chorus rehearsal (eventually staging rehearsal) OR Public Performance
3pm to 4pm Staging or recital rehearsal OR Public Performance
There would be one full day off every week. Occasional evening rehearsals would be required for public performance. This is a tuition-based program with the anticipated cost of $1,000 per student. Scholarships and financial assistance will be available.