Merola Opera Program

The Merola Opera program:in general, more than 1200 artists between the ages of 20 and 34 audition at sitesacross the country and approximately 30 are chosen to participate in the Merola Opera Program. Merola participants receive intensive training for 11-12weeks. The Program is offered free of financial burden to the artists, including all in-person and online training, and a weekly stipend. Participants are eligible for career grants for the next 5 years and five were selected to be adler fellows with the san francisco Opera in 2023.

The Program is offered free of financial burden to the artists, including their transportation, housing, all training, and a weekly stipend. To accomplish this goal, the Program relies on the support of numerous individuals, foundations, and other granting entities.merola artists complete the Program with a clear idea of what their next steps will be musically, artistically, and technically as they pursue their careers in Opera. Some students participate in the Program for a second summer and a select few go on to become adler fellows with the san francisco Opera.

The program includes: MUSICAL STYLE AND INTERPRETATION; STAGE TECHNIQUE; ENSEMBLE WORK; MOVEMENT;ACCOMPANIMENT; MAKEUP; ACTING; STAGE COMBAT; CONDUCTING; VOCAL ROLE COACHING; PROMPTING; LANGUAGES AND DICTION; AND CAREER COACHING.A HIGHLIGHT OF THE PROGRAM IS THE OFFERING OF MASTER CLASSES, WHERE SOME OFOPERA'S MOST EXCITING LEGENDS TRANSFER THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO THE NEXT GENERATION OFOPERA ARTISTS. PARTICIPANTS HAVE SEVERAL CHANCES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ARTISTIC GROWTH AS THEY PERFORM FULLY STAGED OPERAS DURING THE SUMMER, A SCENES CONCERT, AND THE FAMED MEROLA GRAND FINALE AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE.