Chicago Summer Opera's 2027 Winter Opera Session: application now open!

We’re thrilled to announce that applications for our 2027 Winter Opera Session are now open for singers, orchestra members, and production team participants!

Program Highlights

• Perform a role with orchestra
• Individual lessons and coaching
• Master classes and professional workshops
• Media package including professionally filmed performances and dress rehearsal photo call images

2027 Winter Season

Hansel & Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck

Program Dates

December 28, 2026 – January 17, 2027

Auditions

Chicago Auditions

July 8 & 16, 2026

Deadline: July 1, 2026

Recording Application Deadline: July 21, 2026

Tuition

$3,550 per session

Scholarships, financial aid, and work-study opportunities are available. Over $240,000 in scholarships was awarded last season.

Program Information
Chicago Summer Opera is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing world-class training to gifted artists while offering accessible, high-quality performances to our community. Our program emphasizes role preparation, vocal technique, dramatic preparation, audition technique, and stage movement. Each singer is cast in either a full role or a cover role, with productions staged and performed with orchestra. Cover artists also receive the unique opportunity to present a fully staged cover run with piano. This balanced combination of training and performance allows developing singers to achieve significant artistic growth in a short period of time.

Over the past ten seasons, Chicago Summer Opera has had the privilege of working with an extraordinary roster of internationally recognized artists, teachers, directors, and conductors who have joined our faculty or led guest master classes. These distinguished faculty and master class technicians  include Alexandra LoBianco, Allan Glassman, Elizabeth Byrne, Nicole Cabell, Norman Reinhardt, Soula Parassidis, Viktoria Vizin, Jeff Mattsey, John DeMain, Michael Ehrman, Julia Faulkner,  Amy Hutchison, Codrut Birsan, Quinn Kelsey, Sunny Joy Langton, Mark Ross Clark, Adriano Spampanato, Cathy Dunn Francesco Milioto, Andreas Mitisek, Steven Mosteller, Andrew Owens, Yasuko Oura, Matthew Ozawa, Philip Pierce, Susanna Phillips, W. Stephen Smith, Michael Sylvester, and Pedro Yanez. Their expertise and mentorship have helped shape Chicago Summer Opera into a program that inspires, challenges, and prepares the next generation of opera singers.

Key Features

Voice Lessons
Work one-on-one with experienced faculty in private lessons. You’ll refine audition materials, polish roles, and receive fresh perspectives to grow your artistry. Major benefits include building your network, fine-tuning your instrument, and preparing confidently for auditions and performances.

Coachings
Gain specialized guidance on language, musicality, and dramatic interpretation. Coaching sessions help you sharpen the details that make auditions and roles stand out, ensuring you feel prepared on every level.

Master Classes
Step into the spotlight—or learn from the audience—in master classes led by conductors, directors, renowned voice teachers, and opera professionals. These are invaluable opportunities to grow, receive feedback, and connect with industry leaders.

Workshops
Dive deeper into your craft with workshops designed to strengthen your dramatic and professional skills.
* Role & Audition Workshops: Break down characters and bring authenticity to your performance.
* Career Workshops: Build your toolkit for a professional career—covering young artist programs, agents/managers, taxes, self-promotion, email etiquette, European audition circuits, and more.

Media
Main stage opera productions are professionally filmed, and dress rehearsals include high-quality photo call.

Performing a Role with Orchestra
Performing a fully staged role with orchestra. Each production combines all the artistic elements of opera into a transformative performance experience.
* Singers receive either a full role or a cover role (with only one cover per role).
* Covers have a dedicated staged cover run with piano.
* Previous performances are available to view online.

Fees
$3,550 tuition per session
Audition Based Scholarships Available
Audition based scholarship available. Over $230,000 in scholarship was given for the 2026 season.
Financial Aid Available
Payment Plans Available