Children's Chorus

There is an annual 3-term fee of £225, payable as a one-off transaction or in term instalments of £75 a term.

A limited number of partial bursaries are available, please contact us for further information. 

The Children’s Chorus is led by Scottish Opera Chorus Director Susannah Wapshott, managed by Scottish Opera’s Education & Outreach department and supported by a highly experienced team of theatre professionals.

The singing element will include learning songs and excerpts from a wide range of musical genres, including children’s choruses from opera, musicals, folk, traditional and world music. To engender lifelong musicianship skills, children will work with a specialist using the Kodaly* practice of music teaching.

Along with music, the skill building will relate to the world of opera, including acting and stage skills, language coaching, choreography, costumes, wigs and make-up.

At the end of each term, there will be an informal presentation for family and friends.

As their expertise develops, the chorus members will experience a range of performance opportunities; from specially commissioned pieces of children’s music theatre, to opportunities to perform in Scottish Opera’s Touring productions across Scotland, with a cast and chorus of professional singers and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. 

*The Kodály method was developed by Hungarian Zoltán Kodály in the mid-twentieth century and is a teaching method that uses rhythm and actions to learn music. 

Children who are currently in P4, P5 and P6 who love singing, dance, movement and acting and would like to learn how to perform onstage as part of an integrated musical & theatrical experience. Successful applicants currently in Primary 6 can expect to remain a member of the chorus for one academic year for the duration of their Primary 7 year at school, until Summer 2026.

Audition workshops will be held in May 2025 to join the year-long programme, starting in September 2025. Previous experience of performing is not essential and there is no requirement to read music. All training is provided in the programme, with the aim of boosting skills and confidence over the course of the year. Rehearsals will take place at Scottish Opera’s main premises in Charing Cross, Glasgow with occasional rehearsals at Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street.

During the auditions, each applicant will be given a place in a group of around 10 others. The audition will last 25–30 minutes and be led by two or three Scottish Opera artists. There are no solo auditions.

The session, conducted in an energetic, but friendly and supportive environment, will involve a range of tasks and activities (mainly group work, but with some individual moments) that are designed to assess the musical (including vocal range) and dramatic capacities of each child.

Children should wear comfortable clothes and footwear to enable easy movement, including floor work and co-ordination games. Your child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the auditions. The auditions will take place at the following venues: 

Barrowfield Community Centre
67 Yate St, Glasgow G31 4AQ
Tuesday 20 May, from 4:30pm

Yoker Community Campus
10 Kelso Pl, Glasgow G14 0LL
Wednesday 21 May, from 4:30pm

Scottish Opera Production Studios
40 Edington St, Glasgow G4 9RD
Saturday 24 May, from 11am

Cairns Church, Milngavie
11 Buchanan St, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8AW 
Tuesday 27 May, from 4:30pm

East Kilbride Arts Centre
51-53 Old Coach Rd, East Kilbride, Glasgow G74 4DU
Wednesday 28 May, from 4:30pm