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The Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera are young singers and pianists/coaches on the verge of international careers. The program provides intensive study with renowned vocal and dramatic coaches and offers voice lessons, language classes, career guidance, and master classes with Washington National Opera staff and guest artists. The Young Artists also have the opportunity to perform and cover roles in WNO productions, and to create new roles in WNO’s new works program, the American Opera Initiative.

In addition to many performances on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Young Artists have performed at the White House, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, the United States Senate, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Mexican Cultural Institute, the Music Center at Strathmore, with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, and at numerous embassies.

Each season, the Young Artists sing a fully staged performance with orchestra in the Kennedy Center Opera House as part of the WNO season. Past productions have included La traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, La bohème, Alcina, and Carmen, conducted by such luminaries as Philippe Auguin, Evan Rogister, Renato Palumbo, Jane Glover, and Michael Christie. In the 2018-2019 season, the Young Artists performed a Concert of Comic Masterpieces on Friday, May 24, 2019, including the first act of Verdi’s Falstaff. The annual recital series has featured the Young Artists at the National Gallery, the Phillips Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Kreeger Museum. Two seasons ago, they performed a special production of extracts from Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Consul at the Supreme Court.

Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera graduates have gone on to successful careers including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, LA Opera, New York City Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Bayreuth Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Teatro Real in Madrid, Liceu Opera Barcelona, and Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

Audition Information

Washington National Opera's Cafritz Young Artists provides training designed to help bridge the gap between university/conservatory-level studies and a professional career in opera. Successful applicants should demonstrate major operatic potential and be eligible for employment in the US by the start date of the coming season (through possession of US citizenship, Green Card, or other appropriate work visa). There is no specific age limit to apply, and we welcome the unique contributions you can bring to WNO and the Kennedy Center in terms of race, ancestry, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, culture, social background, education, languages spoken, Veteran's status, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Compensation

Payment is provided: Stipend, reimbursement of monthly health insurance premium (up to a certain amount), one-time moving allowance, financial assistance with travel for competitions, lessons, and auditions. Singers will also have the opportunity to perform and cover roles in Washington National Opera mainstage productions, which are compensated according to AGMA stipulations in addition to regular stipend. Pianists will have the opportunity to work on a mainstage production each season as part of the WNO music staff.

For more information about the Cafritz Young Artists of WNO, the application process, or the audition requirements, please email [email protected].

Application Information

We will be holding our annual live audition tour in Washington D.C., New York City, Cincinnati, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Live Auditions

• October 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA (Colburn School)
• October 9, 2024 in Houston, TX (Houston Grand Opera)
• October 11, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music)
• October 14, 2024 in Washington, DC (WNO Studios)
• November 18-22, 2024 in New York, NY (Opera America)

Step 1: Apply to the Cafritz Young Artists as you normally would via YAP Tracker. Applications are due Tuesday, September 3:

Step 2: Notifications of live auditions will be sent by Monday, September 23.

Step 3: Attend your live audition.

Step 4: Notifications of live finalist auditions will be sent in late November or December after the completion of our audition tour. A select number of candidates will be invited to audition live in DC in January 2025.

Kennedy Center Education

The Vice President of Education is generously endowed by the

Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.