Dutch National Opera Studio

About Dutch National Opera Studio

The Dutch National Opera Studio programme is a two-year traineeship for singers and répétiteurs, which aims to prepare young talent for an international opera career. The Opera Studio combines workshops and coaching with a wide range of professional experiences. Artistic leader is the internationally renowned soprano Rosemary Joshua.

About the studio

The Opera Studio was launched in September 2018. The carefully selected participants gain important experience by participating in the professional environment of Dutch National Opera and are coached in every aspect of their professional development. In this way they gain crucial experience to give wings to their professional career.

The participants of the Opera Studio perform at lunch concerts and foyer evenings, take part in workshops from international directors and coaches, sing small roles on the big stage and perform starring roles in the annual Opera Studio production.

The pianist/répétiteur of the Opera Studio is coached by the music staff of Dutch National Opera and mentored by DNO’s Chief Conductor as well as guest conductors. The pianist/répétiteur participates in every aspect of the preparation of opera and is fully involved in all Studio activities.

Auditions 2023/2024

Auditions for the 2023/2024 season are now open! For more information about the auditions, click here. Click on the button below to go directly to the application form.

Apply now

From Audition to Performance: episode 1

From Audition to Performance: episode 2

From Audition to Performance: episode 3

Maya Gour sings ‘Non so più’

Sam Carl sings ‘La vendetta’

Frederik Bergman zingt ‘Tutto è disposto’

Frederik Bergman sings ‘Tutto è disposto’

The studio members 2022/2023

The Dutch National Opera Studio members of season 2022/2023 are:
Claire Antoine (soprano)
Inna Demenkova (soprano)
Elenora Hu (soprano)
Maya Gour (mezzo-soprano)
Ian Castro (tenor)
Georgiy Derbas-Richter (baritone)
Maksym Nazarenko (baritone) (until December 2022)
Jake Ingbar (countertenor / associate artist)
Amy Chang (répétiteur)
Daniel Ruiz de Cenzano Caballero (répétiteur)

Claire Antoine

Soprano

Inna Demenkova

Soprano

Elenora Hu

Soprano

Maya Gour

Mezzo-soprano

Ian Castro

Tenor

Georgiy Derbas-Richter

Baritone

Maksym Nazarenko

Baritone

Jake Ingbar

Countertenor

Amy Chang

Repetitor

Daniel Ruiz de Cenzano Caballero

Repetitor

Rosemary Joshua

Artistic leader

Scene from Dido and Aeneas (2022) | Photo: Eduardus Lee

Success

That the Opera Studio is a true breeding ground for opera stars, is proven by the alumni of the Studio themselves! Read more about the productions in which the alumni of season 2020/2021 will shine in the years to come!

Successen van alumni seizoen 2020/2021

Julietta Aleksanyan

Soprano Julietta Aleksanyan has been offered a contract in Mainz to sing, among others, the roles of Ännchen in Die Freischutz, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and Serpetta in La finta giardiniera. In the season 22/23 she will also join the Nederlandse Opera, a partner of Dutch National Opera, to sing the role of Marzelline in Beethoven's Fidelio.

Sam Carl

Next September, bass Sam Carl starts a two-year contract in Darmstadt, where he will sing the roll of Masetto in Don Giovanni, Colline in La bohème and Don Quichotte in Don Quichotte. He will also take on the part of Nick Shadow in The Rake's Process by Glyndebourne Tour.

Verity Wingate

Soprano Verity Wingate has recently won second prize in the International Hans Gabor Vocal Competition 2021. This summer she joins the 'young artist programme' of the Salzburg Festival, where she will sing the role of Trainbearer zal zingen in Electra. After that she will travel onto English National Opera, to make her debut in Philipp Glass' Satyagraha.

Frederik Bergman

Coming season, bass-baritone Frederik Bergman returns to Dutch National Opera to sing the roles of Masetto in Don Giovanni and Rochefort in a new production of Anna Bolena. He will also join the ZaterdagMatinee, where he will sing Cirillo Fedora. In the season 22/23 he will take on the role of Don Fernando in Fidelio with the Nederlandse Reisopera.

Jose Simerilla Romero

Next season, tenor Jose Simerilla Romero will sing the role of Alfredo in La traviata with the Nederlandse Reisopera and he will join the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Fidelio with Gustavo Dudamel. In 2022 he will start a two-year contract in Hannover.