Conservatory Ensembles > Opera >Young Artist Program

Young Artists

The UMKC Conservatory/Lyric Opera of Kansas City Young Artist Program is designed for the exceptional young singer with true operatic career potential. Young Artists will be required to perform various mainstage roles at the Lyric and the Conservatory. The program integrates professional operatic performance experience at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City with the educational training one receives while working on a Masters, Performance Certificate, Artist Certificate, or Doctoral degree in vocal performance at UMKC. The program usually lasts two years, and consists of two nine-month contracts, August to May. The Young Artists for the 2008-2009 season/academic year will begin their contracts in August of 2008.

We offer four Young Artist positions, one for each voice type. Auditions for the 2008 — 2009 season have already taken place. Auditions for Tenors and Basses will be held in the Spring of 2009.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City awards the following:

• Role assignments for two seasons in their four mainstage operas. These roles range from chorus and comprimario roles to supporting and the occasional principal role, all depending on the season and the needs of the company. Young Artists are paid at AGMA rates.
• In the second year of the program, Young Artists are eligible to be considered for the $5,000 Kaplan Prize.
• Young Artists are often involved in productions and programs with LOKC's fine Education department, such as LryicExpress, an educational outreach ensemble who takes opera into area schools. For this work they are paid an additional stipend.

• A stipend ranging from $6000 - $8000
• 6 hour credit waiver
• Out-of-state tuition waived for all additional credit hours per semester

The Young Artists are also active in the opera program at UMKC, and may participate in one or both mainstage productions, depending on the needs of the program.

AUDITION INFORMATION:

As this Young Artist program encompasses both an academic and professional arm, applicants must audition for UMKC and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. These auditions will be held in early 2009 with an application deadline in December 2008.

Both auditions will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, 2007 in Kansas City. Deadline for application is December 15, 2006.

Application: http://conservatory.umkc.edu/PDFs/umkc-lokc-appilcation-2008.pdf

Inquiry letter: http://conservatory.umkc.edu/PDFs/lokc-inqry_letter-2008.pdf

The Young Artist Audition:

To be considered for the Young Artist Program, you will sing for Ward Holmquist, Artistic Director of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and for Marciem Bazell, Director of Opera at UMKC. Please prepare at least three arias, one of which must be in English. An accompanist will be provided. Details, directions and maps will be included in the mailing that gives your specific audition information. UMKC/LOKC Young Artist Program application will be due in December 2008 at the following address:

UMKC/LOKC Young Artist Program
c/o Lee Fowler, Jr.
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Conservatory of Music and Dance / Grant Hall
5227 Holmes St.
Kansas City, MO 64110

Application to UMKC:

We cannot officially accept any Young Artist until he/she has also been accepted by the University and the Conservatory. That process is as follows:

Lee Fowler in Conservatory Admissions will send you a packet of UMKC materials, forms, and information pertaining to the Conservatory graduate degree programs. In it you will find the UMKC admissions form. Complete all portions of the admissions form and send it, with the required fee, to the address indicated. Additional audition information can be found at: http://conservatory.umkc.edu/audition_applicationprocedures.asp#auditiondates

Voice Audition Requirements: http://conservatory.umkc.edu/PDFs/repertoire/Voice08.pdf

Application for the Conservatory:

The application packet you will receive from the Conservatory will also include an Audition Request Form for Conservatory Admission and Scholarships. Prospective masters students should prepare twenty minutes of music in a variety of languages and styles; doctoral applicants should prepare thirty minutes of music. All completed materials (the Audition Request form, GTA application, and sealed letters of recommendation) should be sent to Conservatory Admissions. The Audition request form, GTA application and forms for letters of recommendation are all part of the Conservatory Supplemental application.

Audition times will be appointed after the application deadline has passed. We will send out letters notifying you of your audition time in January 2009. Included with the notification will be a confirmation letter which you will need to sign and return to us; please indicate whether or not you will be participating in the auditions.

Application checklist (all materials must be received no later than December 17, 2007):

1. UMKC/LOKC Young Artist Application to Lee Fowler in Conservatory Admissions
2. UMKC admissions form, along with the required fee, to UMKC Admissions
3. Request for form entitled "Admission/Audition for the Conservatory" from Conservatory Admissions
4. GTA Application and Letters of Recommendation to Conservatory Admissions (Letters of Recommendation may be received as late as the day of your audition)
5. Notification letters are mailed in early January 2009.
6. Confirmation letter (signed and dated) received mid-January 2009.
7. Auditions will be in early February 2009.

Please direct any questions regarding the Young Artist Program to Marciem Bazell, and questions regarding the audition/application process to Lee Fowler.

Marciem Bazell
Assistant Professor and Director of Opera
816-235-2898
Fax: 816-235-5264
bazellm@umkc.edu

Lee Fowler
Conservatory Recruitment
816-235-5209
Fax: 816-235-5264
fowlerlm@umkc.edu