Call for applications: Cape Town Opera head vocal coach

The company has a current staff compliment of 18 chorus members, four young artists, two soloists and 22 administrators and managers overseen by a nine-member board of directors. The successful candidate will work at the Cape Town Opera based at the Artscape Theatre Centre in the foreshore area of Cape Town from September.

Applicant requirements

• The applicant must be an accomplished pianist and vocal coach with experience in the training of both professional and student opera singers. Expertise is assumed in the major operatic languages, musical styles, audition repertoire and principles of vocal technique and health.
• A good communicator and fluent in English. The applicant will show initiative and passion in the development and training of opera singers. Artistic duties are to be performed at Cape Town Opera rehearsal rooms as well as area performance venues.
• The position is full-time and supervised by the Cape Town Opera artistic director. Work hours may include weekends and holidays. The successful applicant must be willing to tour nationally or internationally, if necessary, in conjunction with Cape Town Opera’s production and concert schedule.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in piano, vocal coaching or conducting.
• Substantial experience playing conducted rehearsals for opera productions and postgraduate-level voice studios; preferably also experience playing for acting and dance coaching, plus conducting rehearsals and playing keyboard parts in the orchestra pit or recitatives in performance.
• Ability to sing cues while playing and demonstrate vocal phrase structure and breath control.
• Familiarity with the entire standard operatic repertoire, including the ability to accompany most audition repertoire without rehearsal.
• Evidence of success as a studio vocal coach with college level singers or above.
• Solid mastery in at least French, German, or Italian, plus English, and reliable diction knowledge of the other languages.
• Team spirit and interest in the development of singers and the success of productions.

Applicant responsibilities

• Preparing solo singers for any role, audition, or concert repertoire they may be required to perform.
• Backstage cueing or conducting and acting as a musical assistant to the conductor.
• Instruction and refinement of singers’ diction, stylistic and interpretive skills associated with operatic performance.
• Serving as pianist as required for the rehearsals and performances for operas, concerts, masterclasses, lectures/demonstrations or other musical productions.
• Accompanying singers for any auditions as required by Cape Town Opera.

Compensation, application procedure and start date

Applications for the first round of the selection process will be accepted from 15 June – 15 July. CVs and a list of three contactable references should be sent via email to geraldp@capetownopera.co.za. All information will be kept confidential. Successful applicants will be invited to audition for the second round; details will be made available at the appropriate time.

Compensation information will be provided to successful applicants. References will be contacted only on prior notification to the applicant. The anticipated start date is 1 September. Cape Town Opera reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Established in 1999 as a non-profit performing arts company, Cape Town Opera is South Africa’s and Africa’s only full-time opera company. Annual activities include fully staged opera productions in Cape Town, national music education programmes for primary and secondary school learners, as well as national and international touring of operas and concerts.

View the original call here.