Program

Begun in 2002 under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo and the patronage of First Lady Laura Bush, the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is designed for singers on the verge of international careers, as well as coach-accompanists, directors, and conductors. World-renowned singers, directors, and coaches work with the Young Artists to guide them in their transition from musician to artist and help them build long-lasting and healthy careers.

All members of the Program take part in weekly sessions with renowned vocal and drama coaches, receive voice lessons, and participate in language classes. All members are involved in master classes with prominent singers, conductors, and directors, and take advantage of discussions about career development with accomplished singers, conductors, directors, and artist managers. Through Washington National Opera staff, participants are exposed to the basics of stage combat, makeup, movement, etc. All Young Artists are encouraged and expected to take advantage of their accessibility to the company's resources by observing main stage rehearsals and performances, entering in dialogues with members of the artistic and production staff, and exploring the music library..

In addition to regular work with Plácido Domingo, master classes have been given with directors Baz Luhrmann and Marthe Keller, conductor Emmanuel Villaume, and singers Shirley Verrett, Roberta Peters, Evelyn Lear, Thomas Stewart, and Jan Hendrik Rootering.

Young Artists also have the opportunity to sing and cover roles on the mainstage of Washington National Opera, perform scenes and a full-length opera, and also work with the Opera's nationally acclaimed education and outreach programs. Each year, the Young Artists assume the lead roles in an added performance of a main stage production. Past operas have included Don Giovanni, La Cenerentola, Die Zauberflöte, L'elisir d'amore, Gianni Schicchi, and the newly-commissioned Democracy: An American Comedy.  Ensembles have appeared at numerous institutions, including the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery, the Mexican Cultural Institute, and the Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center.

Singers: Depending on one's ability and the availability of roles, all singers are involved in a Washington National Opera main stage production as either a performer, cover, or understudy. All singers perform ensembles and arias throughout the DC metro area.

Coach/Accompanists: In addition to the training described in the first paragraph, coaches work closely with visiting coaches and Washington National Opera staff accompanists. Pianists accompany the singers regularly in performances in the community and, depending on ability and experience, may have the opportunity to work on a mainstage opera. In addition, each coach/accompanist will lead a project commensurate with one's interests. Past projects have included leading a zarzuela program at the Mexican Cultural Institute (selecting the repertoire, casting the parts, coaching the singers, teaching the language, and narrating the performance), leading a program of Russian repertoire at the Russian Embassy (selecting, casting, coaching, teaching, and narrating), and designing school outreach programs based on the Young Artist opera (selecting the excerpts, preparing the singers, narrating the program).

Stage Directors:  IStage directors learn how to work with opera singers by participating in the same training as the singer. In addition, the director coaches singers individually and directs all Young Artist performances. The director stages the annual Young Artist performance in the Kennedy Center Opera House and may serve as an assistant director for a main stage opera, depending on ability and availability of positions. By attending mainstage rehearsals, the Young Artist has the opportunity to meet and learn from world renowned opera stage directors.

Conductors learn how to become an opera conductor by participating in the same training as a singer. The conductor serves as the assistant conductor for the Young Artist performance and works regularly with WNO's chorus master and music staff, as well as the Program's visiting coaches. By attending mains tage rehearsals, the Young Artist has the opportunity to meet and learn from world-renowned opera conductors.