2025 Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute Registration Form

This application closed on Friday June 13, 2025.

No audition is necessary to participate in the Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute. Participants are accepted in the order received. However, we do request that performers submit two contrasting audio files, so that we may cast you in appropriate scenes with appropriate partners. You may email your MP3 files to balk@nautilusmusictheater.org. Please be sure to label your files with your last name, and identify your selections in your email.

Personal Information:

First Name*

Last Name*

E-mail address*

Address line 1*

Address line 2

City*

State/Province*

Zip/Post Code*

Country*

Cell Number*

No spaces, dashes etc. phone number fields

Preferred Pronouns*

She/Her/Hers

He/Him/His

They/Them/Theirs

Other

Preferred Pronouns (Other)

If you answered 'other,' please describe or comment:

In what capacity do you want to participate? (select only one)*

Performer

Stage Director/Dramatic Coach

Music Director/Pianist

If performer, do you identify as a specific voice type? (Directors, choose "Other" and indicate your position below)*

If you answered 'other,' please describe or comment:

Do you have any special needs we should be aware of?*

We work with a wide variety of performers, from classical opera singers to musical theater folks to avant-garde performers to pop singers to actors who have only had basic vocal training. Answering this question will help us assign scenes that are consistent with your experience and training. Do you learn music by reading a score, or do you generally learn music by ear?*

Maximum number of selections permitted: 2

I read musical scores fairly well.

I can read scores, but it's not my preferred way of learning.

I generally learn by ear

Is there anything else you want us to know about your preferred learning style?

Artistic Goals*

Please describe your artistic goals in attending the Institute. Of all the training programs to choose from, why have you selected our particular program to attend this summer? What do you hope to gain from it? Use as much space as you need to properly describe your goals.

Are you interested in receiving information about a dorm room on the campus of the University of Minnesota?*

Yes

Submission Materials:

Please attach a current resumé in a PDF format

If you do not have a prepared resume at the time of submission, please email the resume to balk@nautilusmusictheater.org

None

You must be signed in to add your resume.

Letter of Introduction

Please submit a LETTER OF INTRODUCTION (in PDF format) from a colleague with whom you have recently worked. This might be your voice teacher or a college professor or a stage director or a fellow performer, etc; someone who can describe your working process and what they perceive your artistic strengths and weaknesses to be. It should be a true LETTER OF INTRODUCTION, not a regular letter of recommendation. Since we accept everyone on a "first-come, first-served" basis, this letter will not affect whether or not you get in. But it should provide us with information about you so that we can anticipate how best to serve you. PLEASE BE SURE TO CONVEY THIS DISTINCTION TO WHOMEVER YOU ARE ASKING TO WRITE THIS LETTER.

Please note: the company is not using the online letter of recommendation process. Your colleague will not receive a link through the system. You must either attach the letter here or share the contact information with your letter of introduction writer as to how to submit their note via email or postal mail (see below). Maximum number of documents permitted: 1

You must be signed in to add your resume.

How will you submit your letter of introduction?*

I have attached my LETTER OF INTRODUCTION as a PDF file.

Please do so in the question above marked Letter of Introduction

I will have my colleague submit their LETTER OF INTRODUCTION by email to balk@nautilusmusictheater.org.

I will have my colleague submit their LETTER OF INTRODUCTION by regular mail, sent to THE WESLEY BALK INSTITUTE, Nautilus Music-Theater, 308 Prince St #190, St Paul MN 55101.

AUDIO FILES FOR SCENE ASSIGNMENTS:

No audition is necessary to participate in the Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute. Participants are accepted in the order received. However, we do request that performers submit two contrasting audio files, so that we may cast you in appropriate scenes with appropriate partners. You may email your MP3 files to balk@nautilusmusictheater.org, or if you prefer, you can attach your audio files here. PLEASE BE SURE TO LABEL YOUR FILES WITH YOUR LAST NAME, AND IDENTIFY YOUR SELECTIONS IN YOUR EMAIL. Please contact Ben Krywosz at balk@nautilusmusictheater.org if you have questions about your audio files.

Audio Files

Maximum number of selections permitted: 2

You must be signed in to add audio files.

Financial Arrangements:

• No audition is necessary. Participants are accepted in the order received.
• Minnesota residents: Tuition is $1,000.
• Out-of-state residents: Early-bird tuition is $1,000 if you register before April 11th. After that, it is $1,200.
• A $200 deposit due at the time of registration; the balance is due by June 22nd.
• The deposit is non-refundable unless the Institute is cancelled, in which case all funds paid will be refunded.

• Your registration (if complete and accompanied by non-refundable deposit of $200) will be accepted once you submit this form. Incomplete registrations and those submitted without payment will be held in the order received, but will not be confirmed until missing items are submitted and your deposit is paid.

• Payment may be made in a number of ways: (1) You may mail a check or money order (payable to "Nautilus") to Nautilus Music-Theater, 308 Prince St #190, St Paul MN 55101; or (2) You may pay through PayPal, or by credit card (service charge applies) over the phone; email us at balk@nautilusmusictheater.org for more information on this option, and we will call you.

Payment*

I have mailed my check for $200 and will pay the balance by June 22nd.

I prefer to pay by through PayPal; please call me at the number I have submitted above.

I prefer to pay by credit card, please call me at the number I have submitted above (there is a 3.5% service charge).

I would like to make other arrangements; please call me at the number above.

I would like to request a scholarship (see below).

Scholarships*

A very limited number of partial scholarships are available to performers who identify with under-represented communities. Based on past Institute participation, that would include performers who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People Of Color), performers who have disabilities, and transgender performers. If you are interested in requesting a partial scholarship, please complete the following questions. The Institute staff will be in touch with you to discuss possible arrangements. Maximum number of selections permitted: 3

I identify as Black, Indigenous, or other performer of color.

I identify as a person who has a disability.

I identify as a transgender person.

I do not identify as a person with any of those characteristics, but am still interested in a scholarship due to financial limitations.

I am not asking for a scholarship.

Call us at 651-298-9913 with any questions, or send us an email at balk@nautilusmusictheater.org. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to working with you this summer!