The Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus is a program for children who want to enrich their musical learning experience through participation in an Operatic Music Appreciation Program. It also provides the opportunity for children to audition for a singing role in the Met’s productions. Boys and girls between the ages of seven (7) and ten (10) years are invited to apply for an audition in order to gain entrance into the Children’s Chorus program.
There is no fee for a child to participate in this program. However, even though participation is voluntary, it is expected that the child will attend classes that are held twice per week as follows:
Beginners’ Class meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm.
Intermediate Class meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm.
Advanced Class meets on Friday afternoons from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm and on Saturday afternoons from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
Classes meet on a twice-weekly basis from early September through mid-May. The maximum class size for Beginners and Intermediates is 20; the Advanced Class may number as many as 50 children.
Children in the Advanced Class only are permitted to audition for a singing role in productions. When a child is invited to perform in a production, the parents will be asked to commit to the child’s attendance at all rehearsals and performances, except for reasons of illness.
The Met performs on Monday through Saturday nights and on Saturday afternoons. Operas are rarely repeated on successive nights; instead, an opera may be performed two or three times in a week and may run for four or six weeks of performances.
For each production there are usually five or six studio rehearsals held after school, evenings or Saturdays, followed by an equal number of onstage rehearsals – weekdays between 9:30am and 4:30pm – scheduled in compliance with New York State child labor law.
Audition Process
The audition criteria are a love of singing, an outgoing personality and a strong voice that sings in tune with clear words. Previous vocal training or experience is not required. The set selection is “Happy Birthday”, for which piano accompaniment will be provided. There will also be an ear test.
Entry auditions for classes beginning early February 2012 will be by appointment lasting approximately 1 hour and held as follows:
Monday, January 16th at 4:00 pm and at 5:00 pm
Tuesday, January 17th at 4:00 pm, at 5:00 pm and at 6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 18th at 4:00 pm and at 5:00 pm
Wednesday, January 25th at 4:00 pm and at 5:00 pm
Thursday, January 26th at 4:00 pm and at 6:00 pm
All applicants should arrive promptly, as latecomers cannot be heard once their allotted time has commenced.
The deadline for submission of this form is Friday, December 30, 2011. No forms will be accepted, either by email or by postal mail, after that date.
After the close of the application period, the Met will send you an email notifying you of the date and time of the audition.
If your child is interested in auditioning for this program, please apply now