Mascarade Opera in Florence 27-28: Applications now open!
Mascarade Opera is a performance-based programme for exceptional young opera singers and répétiteurs, based in Florence, Italy. Designed for artists at a pivotal stage in their professional development, Mascarade connects emerging talent with an international network of opera houses, festivals, agencies, conductors, coaches and industry professionals.
Performance is at the core of the programme. Rather than following a fixed curriculum, Mascarade Opera builds an individual pathway around each artist, combining professional performance opportunities with focused artistic development and career guidance. Artists develop through the experience of doing the work itself, with opportunities to take on roles, covers, concerts, recitals, opera galas and orchestral engagements across Europe.
Mascarade Opera’s 2026 partner houses include opportunities with Nationaltheater Mannheim, Staatstheater Augsburg and Staatstheater Wiesbaden, alongside partner agencies such as Boris Orlob Management, Sorek Artists Management and Melos Opera. These connections give artists meaningful access to the wider international opera profession and create opportunities to build experience, relationships and momentum at an important stage in their careers.
The programme offers a flexible one-to-two-year pathway, with its duration and focus shaped in close collaboration between the artist and the Mascarade Opera team. Individual coaching, role preparation and career guidance are integrated around each artist’s professional objectives, ensuring that development is directly connected to the opportunities they are pursuing.
Mascarade Opera is informed by contemporary research into performance psychology, coaching and high-performance practice, drawing on approaches developed across fields including sport, business, education and health. These perspectives inform how artists prepare, perform, reflect and develop, while remaining firmly grounded in the realities of a professional opera career.
Mascarade Opera is open to singers and répétiteurs aged 30 or under on the closing date for applications. We recognise that there is no single route into a career in classical music, and the programme is designed to meet artists at different points in their development.
At Mascarade Opera, performance is the pathway to a professional career.
“Mascarade is a unique place where I can explore new passions and achieve artistic originality.”
~ Ángel Vargas, Tenor, 2022/23 Emerging Artist
“I love working in such a supportive and nurturing environment, with people who push me every day to be the best artist and person I can possibly be. I will be forever grateful for the world-class training Mascarade is providing me with.”
~ Lauren Young, Mezzo-soprano, 2020/21 Studio Artist
“Working with Dr Ralph Strehle on performance psychology is incredibly beneficial in helping to find an emotional balance and proactive ways of coping with the challenges in this career.”
~ Catriona Morison, Mezzo-soprano, Winner of the Main Prize at the 2017 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition
“Julia Lynch is a world-class coach who (luckily for us) has chosen to work with young people and help us develop in every way – musically, artistically and also personally! As a young singer, it is so important to have someone guide you in the right direction, suggest the best repertoire which suits your voice and overcome all sorts of technical, linguistic and performance issues. Julia was that person for me. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend years with her guidance and under her wing.”
~ Svetlina Stoyanova, Mezzo-soprano, First Place prize winner at the 2017 Neue Stimmen singing competition
“I have been working with Jonathan Papp since my time as a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is a fantastic coach with a wealth of knowledge of operatic and song repertoire but especially Bel Canto and Verismo. He has, without a doubt, played an essential part in my development as a singer.”
~ Freddie de Tommaso, Tenor
“I think it’s absolutely fabulous what you are doing here. What you are offering the artists is truly incredible, revolutionary and I think it’s fantastic.”
~ Michael Spyres, Tenor
KEY DATES FOR APPLICATIONS AND AUDITIONS (2027-2028)
Applications for entry in 2027 open on Monday 14 September 2026.
Applications will be assessed via YAP Tracker. The deadline for online submissions is midnight on Monday 16 November 2026.
Live auditions will be held in Florence, Italy, Friday 5 February - Sunday 7 February 2027.
APPLICATION AND AUDITION PROCESS
Applications should be made via YAP Tracker. If shortlisted, you will be contacted directly in December 2026 and invited to the live auditions in February 2027.
