San Francisco Opera Chorus Auditions

FOR THE 2024 SEASON
OPENINGS IN ALL VOICE CATEGORIES

Audition Request Audition Application Announcement

San Francisco Opera will hold auditions in October/November for experienced, classically trained singers who are seeking a professional contract in the San Francisco Opera Chorus for the 2024 season. Multiple positions for all voice parts will be available in the full-time Regular Chorus and part-time Extra Chorus. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. San Francisco Opera anticipates needing to fill 13 Regular Chorus positions, including all voice types, for the 2024 AGMA contract year. This number does not include any potential positions made available due to retirements or leave of absence from the Tenured Chorus.

Musical rehearsals are currently scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024. Performances will take place in June and early July as part of the spring/summer season, with the fall season opening in September and ending in early December. A tentative Chorus Master Schedule will be provided with any offer.

AUDITION SCHEDULE
All auditions take place at the War Memorial Opera House (301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco) on the following dates:

Saturday, October 21^st, from 2 to 5 pm
Sunday, October 22^nd from 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Sunday, October 29^th from 1 to 5 pm
Saturday, November 4^th from 6 to 9 pm

AUDITIONS ARE BY INVITATION ONLY
Please submit your application, resume, headshot and at least two letters of recommendation from references of recognized musical authority with whom you have worked, and your first and second choices of audition dates. You must submit all material before consideration will be given for an audition.

If you have sung with the San Francisco Opera Chorus in any of the past 5 seasons, you do need to submit an application, but do not need to submit letters of reference or a headshot.
If you qualify for an audition, you will be notified via email no later than one week before the audition date. For those coming from out of town your audition date/time will be sent immediately to allow for travel arrangements.
Once assigned an audition date/time, no changes will be made with less than 72 hour notice.
San Francisco Opera reserves the right to deny audition requests to singers who have auditioned and not been selected three (3) or more times. In some limited cases this may be waived two years from the last audition, with evidence of additional experience and/or training.

Basic Requirements:

A minimum of 4 years classical voice training – academic or private.
Excellent sight reading ability – music and languages.
Ability to memorize music quickly.
Experience in another professional OPERA or SYMPHONY chorus and/or strong academic or other non-professional experience.
Stage experience or significant stage training.
Availability to work according to a complex rehearsal and performance schedule.
Ability to take and accept stage and musical direction.
Ability to work in a theatrical environment, including but not limited to the ability to perform in a variety of stage conditions including flat and raked stages, at stage level and on elevated platforms, and with the use of specific scenic effects including the use of stage smoke and fog simulator effects including but not limited to steam and dry ice.

Application Deadline:
Applications should be submitted 10 days prior to your desired audition date.
Final Deadline is October 23^rd, 2023

Singers should submit materials to:
nromelfanger@sfopera.com (Email Preferred)
San Francisco Opera Chorus
301 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Attn.: Noelle Romelfanger, Auditions Coordinator
Phone: (415)565-3205

AUDITION SPECIFICS/REQUIREMENTS
Regular Chorus & Extra Chorus Repertoire Requirements: 3 operatic arias, one of which must be in Italian.
A 4^th selection is optional, and may be an operatic aria, oratorio aria, or spiritual. All selections must be memorized.

You must provide a rep sheet.
You may be asked to sing only one aria.
Arias should be sung in the original key and language.
The ability to read and memorize music quickly and accurately is a must. You may be asked to sight read.
You should anticipate the audition lasting no longer than 5 minutes; please plan your repertoire accordingly.
San Francisco Opera will furnish an accompanist. You must provide a legible copy of each aria, in the correct key, for the accompanist.
You are welcome to bring your own accompanist. Please share their name at the time the audition is confirmed.
No guests will be permitted into the audition site.

CONTRACT WAGES
Rates of pay for the 2024 AGMA contract year are still to be determined. The 2023 rates are listed below:

Extra Chorus: $61.08 per rehearsal hour / $284.78 per performance
Regular Chorus: $1,917.24 weekly, entry level for 35 weeks (tbc)

All employment is conditioned upon your providing timely and satisfactory evidence of your ability to legally work in the United States upon your acceptance of our offer of employment, should one be extended.

Should you have questions please submit them via email to nromelfanger@sfopera.com