NYIOP + Premiere Opera Foundation 2019
Professional Casting Auditions + International Vocal Competition
2 - 7 December 2019
First Church of Christ Scientist
10 West 68th Street, NYC
QUALIFYING ROUND for the
NYIOP+Premiere Opera Competition
Registration Open NOW via YAP Tracker
FOR THOSE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WHO WISH TO ONLY SING FOR THE NYIOP INTERNATIONAL CASTING PANEL - ONLY NYIOP Casting Audition Registration
for 4 December will be open mid-November 2019.
COMPLETE PANEL ATTENDING /
JURY LISTED BELOW!!!
Fee:
First Round $75
LIVE Rounds: +$200
NYIOP Casting ONLY (4 Dec): $290

“Two Industry-Changing Organizations Unite to Create an Amazing Opportunity to Win Prizes PLUS be Professionally Cast!”
A BOLD NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR NYC THIS DECEMBER -
DEADLINE TO APPLY EXTENDED TO 25 NOVEMBER
For 18 seasons, NYIOP, founded by David Blackburn, has been bringing the world of casting directors to New York City and select international cities, to cast upcoming seasons and scout artists for the future. NYIOP has generated 1000+ contracts for its singers, many of whom are today, major up-and-coming international stars of the stage. Through collaborations with 150+ opera houses and opera festivals, NYIOP prides itself in discovering new artists, and markets for opera singers worldwide.
In 2017 and 2018, the PREMIERE OPERA FOUNDATION, founded by Eric Margiore, began New York City’s First Major International Vocal Competition. The competition boasted No Age Limit and Citizenship Restrictions, and was comprised of panel members including the world-famous conductor, Maestro Richard Bonynge, internationally-renowned sopranos Barbara Frittoli, Aprile Millo, and Catherine Malfitano, super-agents Jack Mastroianni and Ken Benson, as well as collaborations with many other major international operatic cognoscenti, and with the renowned Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. In this short time, Premiere Opera Foundation has burst on the scene, and has given away over $50,000 worth in prizes and opportunities to artists who took part in their offerings.
NOW, in 2019, we are very excited to be combining our efforts and services to create this amazing hybrid of forces - bringing to you a truly exclusive and never before World-Class and intensely focused opportunity of the highest International level. One Audition Process - International Vocal Competition and NYIOP Audition - in New York City - guaranteed prizes worth more than $25,000 and endless Casting Opportunities for Real Professional Contracts.
No Age Limit & No Citizenship Restrictions, steps away from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City!
If you do not have a YAP Tracker account, click here to create a free account. If you have any issues or questions, please don't hesitate to contact us info@nyiop.com
INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION +
PROFESSIONAL CASTING AUDITIONS IN ONE!!
FORMAT:
1. Qualifying Round (Online Yap Tracker Application Submissions including Audio/Video)
2. THREE Live Final Rounds (at every step from the LIVE rounds, you sing for actual casting professionals - there is an additional fee for all who pass to the live rounds - but you pay that fee only once!)
- First Live Round
- Semi-Finals/NYC NYIOP
- Finals
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QUALIFYING ROUND:
Submission of materials online through our Yap Tracker Application.
$65 Early Bird Application Fee (by October 25th) or
$75 Regular Application Fee (by November 15th - the final deadline).
Each application will be reviewed by our panel of Qualifying Round Industry Professionals, and the decision of the panel will be final.
Qualifying Round Panel:
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Ken Benson - President - Ken Benson Artists, Consultant - The Juilliard School, former Vice-President - Columbia Artists Management.
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Beatrice Benzi - Vocal Coach & Accompanist - Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Accademia Teatro alla Scala, IYDV Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.
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Daniel Biaggi - Interim Artistic Director - Portland Opera, Artistic Advisor - Atkins Young Artist Program St. Petersburg, Russia, former General Director - Palm Beach Opera.
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David Blackburn - Founder - NYIOP Auditions, Chief Consultant - Bolshoi Opera Young Artists Program, International Strategic Consultant - Ibáñez-Atkinson Foundation, Professional Career Consultant - Internationale Opernstudio, Opernhaus Zürich.
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Eric Margiore - Internationally Acclaimed Tenor, Founder & General Director - Premiere Opera Foundation, Premiere Artists Management, Premiere Vocal Arts Institute.
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Gerald Martin Moore - Vocal Consultant - Glyndebourne Festival, Curtis Institute of Music, Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Song Studio, Decca Records.
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Constantine Orbelian - Artistic Director - Armenian National Opera Yerevan, Chief Conductor - Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Delos Records, Grammy Award Nominee, former Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic.
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FIRST LIVE ROUND:
December 2nd and 3rd.
Up to 170 singers will be chosen to be heard LIVE in New York City from the Qualifying Round online submissions. You will sing in a superb venue with first-class pianists provided for you at no additional cost.
Our First Live Round Jury will be a powerful mix of actual casting and young artists program directors, as well as industry professionals.
(First Live Round Jury will be announced by October 25th)
As part of our service to you ALL participants in the Live Rounds will receive:
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PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY VIDEO of each audition from every Live Round sung, to be uploaded digitally, after the competition is completed, for your personal promotional and marketing material.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR: December 4th. Career & Business Panel discussion, as well as a Q & A session, both of which are open to ALL Live Round participants. (Seminar Panel to be announced by October 25th).
The seminar will conclude with a LIVE FEEDBACK session with selected panel members, ONLY for those who sing in the First Live Round that DO NOT advance to the Semi-Finals round.
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A typewritten Professional Feedback Summary will be available upon request, after the competition is completed, for each Live Round participant that is not part of the Live Feedback session.
As part of our service to you ALL participants in Live Rounds will be considered for:
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Professional CONTRACTS and Career ADVANCEMENT opportunities at every stage of competition.
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MASTERCLASSES: December 4th. Up to 20 singers will be chosen by the Qualifying Round panel to participate in a series of Public Masterclasses that will be Webcast Live. Repertoire chosen will be from the four (4) arias listed on your competition application. (Master Teachers will be announced by October 25th).
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PAID OPPORTUNITIES from Premiere Opera Foundation for future Concerts & Recitals, as well as participation in the Foundation’s masterclasses worldwide.
A $200 Live Round Fee is due from ALL participants who are invited to present themselves on stage in person for the Live Rounds. Payments for this fee will be done through the NYIOP website and details will be provided to each singer directly once they are chosen.
The Live Round Fee covers Travel, Housing, and Administrative Costs for all Live Round Juries, Masterclass Teachers, and Panel Members, as well as venues for all Live Rounds. Those who are not chosen to sing live do not subsidize the Live Round costs.
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SEMI-FINALS / NYC NYIOPs:
December 5th and 6th.
Up to 90 singers will be chosen to advance from the First Live round. ALL Semi-Finalists will be heard by the Entire Panel of International Casting Directors invited to attend the auditions by NYIOP.
THIS ROUND OF THE COMPETITION WILL BE THE NYC NYIOP AUDITIONS for December 2019.
The Theaters and Festivals in attendance will be hearing these singers to CAST for upcoming seasons as well as to act as members of the competition jury. They will be offering real, paid, professional contracts as well as deciding which artists pass to the Final Round.
(The Semi-Finals/NYC NYIOP Jury will be announced by Oct 25th).
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FINALS:
December 7th.
Up to 20 singers will be chosen for the Live Finals Round Concert, open to the public, just steps from Lincoln Center in New York City, to compete for $25,000 in prizes and awards.
(The Finals Jury will be announced by October 25th).
The Finals Round Concert will be Broadcast Live on the @360ofopera Instagram account for the first time ever!
There will be Professional Observers in attendance for the finals. Numerous singers’ agents and representatives from New York City, as well as International opera and concert houses.
Our Winner’s Reception will be held directly after the Finals Concert with opportunity to network with the Finals Round Jury, and invited special guests.
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PRIZES & AWARDS:
1st PRIZE: $10,000
2nd PRIZE: $5,000
3rd PRIZE: $2,500
We will grant over $25,000 worth in prizes, awards, and unparalleled opportunities.
Aside from our top three prizes, we will grant an Audience Favorite Prize, and multiple Encouragement Grants, as well as special Consultation Prizes, Scholarships for intensive voice study in Italy, and more.
All Finalists who do not receive an award will receive a cash honorarium.
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Multiple Professional Casting/Contract Opportunities.
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Professional Quality Video Footage.
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Winners will have the opportunity to be presented in NYC again, if they are available for our Winners Concert in 2020.
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OPPORTUNITY TO SING FOR THE NYIOP PROFESSIONAL CASTING PANEL FOR PROFESSIONAL SINGERS WHO
DO NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION
For those professional singers who wish to sing the normal December professional casting auditions but do NOT wish to take part in the competition rounds, we will hold ONE DAY of the traditional NYIOP Casting Auditions like we have had since 2002. On December 4th there will be CASTING AUDITIONS for ONLY the NYIOP International Casting Panel of 6+ international theaters.
These auditions will cost $290 - the same fee since 2012 - and will be online for registration from mid-November. Singers who sing on this date will NOT be considered for any prizes or services in the competition.
***IMPORTANT!***
For those who wish to apply ONLY for this one day of NYIOP Casting Auditions, DO NOT follow the YAP tracker application process. A direct link to the NYC Casting Auditions opportunity will be posted via the NYIOP Scheduling System once those spaces are available.
Theaters Confirmed:
Here is an up-to-date list of the confirmed jury/panel members for the December 2019 Casting Auditions and Vocal Competition.
First Live Round - 2-3 December:
- Gayletha Nichols, Santa Fe Opera
- Lenore Rosenberg, Spoleto Festival
- Scott Guzielek, Academy of Vocal Arts
- Alexander Fernandez, Opera Nacional de Chile
- Constantin Orbelian, Armenian National Opera
- Andres Rodriguez Spoerer, Fundación Ibáñez-Atkinson
- Gerald Martin Moore, Juilliard School / Glyndebourne Festival
- Israel Gursky/Stefanos Koroneos, Teatro Grattacielo NYC
- David Blackburn, Bolshoi Opera Studio Moscow / Ibáñez-Atkinson Foundation
- Eric Margiore, Premiere Opera Foundation and Academy
NYIOP Auditions - 4 December / Semi-Final Auditions -5-6 December:
- Julien Benhamou, Opera National de Bordeaux
- Jean Denes, Theater Basel and Opernstudio
- Rosemary Joshua, Dutch National Opera and Opera Studio
- Alexander Fernandez, Opera Nacional de Chile
- Carmen Gloria Larenas, Opera Nacional de Chile
- Andres Rodriguez Spoerer, Fundación Ibáñez-Atkinson
- Christian Jérôme Timme, Staatstheater Braunschweig, Germany
- Constantin Orbelian, Armenian National Opera and Studio
- Gerald Martin Moore, Juilliard School / Glyndebourne Festival
- Ken Benson, Premiere Opera Foundation / Ken Benson Artists
- Mitchell Piper, Trentino Opera Festival / Piper Artists management
- Israel Gursky/Stefanos Koroneos, Teatro Grattacielo NYC
- David Blackburn, Bolshoi Opera Studio Moscow / Ibáñez-Atkinson Foundation
- Eric Margiore, Premiere Opera Foundation and Academy
Finals Concert - 7 December
The ENTIRE Semi-Finals Panel PLUS these below!!
- David Lomeli, Dallas Opera / Bayerisches Staatsoper München
- Paul Hopper. Metropolitan Opera
- Pamela Walsh, New York Philharmonic
- Roberto Mauro, Canadian Opera Company Toronto
- Ken Benson,Premiere Opera Foundation / Ken Benson Artists
- Jack Mastroianni, IMG Artists NYC
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Here is a list of the specific repertoire needs we have already received. This is not complete from all theaters and will be added to as more information is received.
SPECIFIC ROLES NEEDED
Aida: Un messagero
Aida: Una Sacerdotessa
Andrea Chenier: Chenier
Anna Bolena: Hervey
Anna Bolena: Rochefort
Carmen: Don Jose
Carmen: Carmen
Carmen : Morales
Carmen: Dancaire
Carmen: Remendado
Die Zauberflote: Pamina
Die Zauberflote: Queen of the Night
Die Zauberflote: Sarastro
Die Zauberflote: Tamino
Don Carlos (in French): Inquisiteur
Don Carlos (in French): MonkÂ
Don Carlos (in French): Posa
Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Osmin
Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Konstanze
Eugene Onegin: Lenskiy
Eugene Onegin: Tatiana
Il Trovatore: Luna
La Traviata: Violetta
La Traviata: Giuseppe
Le nozze di Figaro: Barbarina
Le nozze di Figaro: Basilio
Le nozze: Marcellina
Maria Stuarda: Anna Kennedy
Mefistofele: Marta/Pantalis
Mefistofele: Wagner/Nereo
Oedipus Rex: Le berger
Oedipus Rex: Le Messager
Otello: Montano
Otello: Un araldo
Peter Grimes: Two nieces
Rigoletto: Duca
Rigoletto: Maddalena
Rigoletto: Sparafucile
Ring Cycle: 8 Walkuren (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: All Norns (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: Flosshilde (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: Froh (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: Gunther (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: Waltraute (semi-staged)
Ring Cycle: Wellgunde (semi-staged)
Robert le Diable: Alberti
Robert le Diable: Cover Isabelle
Robert le Diable: Cover Robert
Robert le Diable: Dame d’honneur
Robert le Diable: Heault d’armes
ENTIRE CASTS SOUGHT:
- Carmelites
- Die Freischutz
- Die Walkure
- Elisir d’amore
- Ercole Amante
- Fedora
- La Boheme
- Le Favorite
- Manon
- Manon Lescaut
- Otello
- Pique Dame
- Roberto Devereux
- The Nose (in German)
- Trovatore
- Viaggio a Reims
- Werther
OPERA STUDIO POSITIONS
- Opera Studio: 1 tenor (not a light one) , 1 lyric bar, and a soprano - 2020-21 season
- For YA Studio - Soprano, Mezzo, tenor, baritone - Season 20-21
- Opera studio: 5 or 6 singers, all voices - Season 2021-22
- Full Studio of 5-8 Artists for year-long studio 2020-21
Register Now
Audition Location
FAQs regarding THIS Project
Pianists are NOT provided. Each singer must bring their own pianist.