Re: Names...

I'm studying opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, enrolled in the Adv. Dip Op course
The training here is really first rate. The opera school is small (about 30 students across 3 year levels and post grad) and there are heaps of performing opportunities and 4 production per year.

This year we put on productions of Handel's Rodelinda, Poulenc's Les Mamelles de Teresias, Britten's Albert Herring, and Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino. Next year our productions are Tamerlano (with the Con's Early Music Ensemble), Donizetti's Il Campanello, Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor and a C20th french opera whose title and composer escape me at this moment. Maybe someone can correct me, but we are the only college in the world doing four show per year. In two years I have added nine roles to my CV.

My only criticism is that sometimes when productions are in full swing, class work can get pushed to the side a bit. The Adv.Dip is practical in focus. No thesis to hand in at the end. Our weekly classes are Italian, French, German, stagecraft, acting, opera performance class, theatre studies, dance and one singing lesson and one 1hr coaching session.
There are also Post Grad Diplomas and Masters courses on offer.


The opera school opening seems a bit odd from what I've read about it. They charge you $10000 per year tuition, but you have to find and pay your own singing teacher on the side.
There are good singers coming out of conservatoria in other states too.

As for working in Australia, there's a reason many young singers leave the country to pursue their craft in the US and Europe: There's only one full time opera company in the country. We in the Arts really get screwed by our nation's natural beauty and fine weather. That and most of the govt funding and corporate sponsorship goes to sport. We have been slow to jump on the philanthropy band wagon.
Something that maybe unique to Australia is the viable career progression of chorus --> young artist --> principal. I did some extra chorus work with the national company this year and the chorus master said he only hires singers who could potentially be soloists.


Cheers,

BabyTenor