The application process is now open for the 2024 season. Applications are due by November 29 with admissions decisions made on a rolling basis. Space is limited to early application is strongly recommended.
Spring Virtual Session (Remote)
Spend 14 weeks strengthening your stage direction skills completing virtual coursework.
Highlights of the Spring Virtual Session
Your pathway to a professional certificate will begin with virtual coursework, where you will gain the foundational skills necessary as an Opera Stage Director. This is an online workshop that will cover the essential practical skills required for each stage of the Directing Process specifically tailored to Stage Direction for Opera. To clarify and articulate concepts, this curriculum appears to present a chronology of separate skills. In reality, they will overlap and change order often in your own creative process:
Pre-Production and Preparation
Such as analyzing a score for character and action, developing an individual directorial vision based on a theme, collaborating with designers to fulfill your vision, and creating an efficient rehearsal schedule.
Staging Rehearsals
Such as working with the Stage Management Team and Music Staff, various types of staging rehearsals, directing singers versus telling them what to do, giving and taking criticism, navigating production paperwork and company expectations, and production meetings.
THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE
Such as addressing various artistic components of directing, including the professional expectations for a Director and an Assistant Director at a professional opera company.
The Transition into the Theatre for Technical Rehearsals and Performance
Such as Tech Rehearsals / Dress Rehearsals / Orchestra Rehearsals, Lighting Sessions, Spike Setting, Shift Rehearsals, working with singers’ needs during tech, supratitles and projections, Fight Calls and Dance Calls, and In-House Production Meetings.
Postproduction Review
A personal post-mortem to review what worked and what did not to prepare for a future production of the same work.
You may already be familiar with some of this information based upon your particular path to directing opera, however you may not be familiar with how a DIRECTOR uses these skills, or how an Opera Director uses them.
"Thank you for an excellent time in class during Level 1 of the Opera Directing Certificate. I learned a lot, and your classes have definitely developed me greatly as a director and singer. The sessions have also been interesting, thought-provoking, and good fun! It has been a true pleasure to be a part of this course."
Janani Sridhar
Adam Baker
Adam Baker
Course Dates
The spring virtual session will operate the weeks of January 24 - May 01, 2024. The time commitment is approximately 2 hours per week, on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:00 pm EST. Additional independent work will be required between weekly sessions.
Eligibility
You must have at least 18 years of age to enroll in the program. To obtain the non credit-bearing professional certificate, you must fully complete all preparatory assignments during the virtual session and complete the Level Two Summer Residential Workshop.
Program Fees
More details on the program fees and application process are available on this page.
Summer Residential Workshop
You must complete the online virtual session to participate in the Level Two Summer Residential Workshop.
The workshop provides the opportunity to integrate the skills learned in your virtual coursework with accomplished singers and pianists.
Both levels must be completed within a two-year period to obtain the non-credit bearing professional certificate.