Scottish Opera

Young Company

Love to sing? Love the theatre? 
Is it time to take your talent to the next level?
Then Scottish Opera Young Company is for you!

The programme is made up of two training strands:

  • Scottish Opera Young Company 
    for ages 17-23 (auditioned)
  • Scottish Opera Young Company Gateway 
    for ages 14-17 (non-auditioned)

Training and performance programmes 
for 14 to 23 year olds 
Jan 2022 to Jul 2022

Scottish Opera Young Company offers young singers and stage managers a unique and practical introduction to the world of opera and the chance to develop their talent through an immersive weekend programme. Rehearsing through the year, SOYC members work with a range of opera professionals – including directors, choreographers, conductors, stage managers and vocal coaches – to hone their skills, culminating in their own performance each Spring. You don’t necessarily need loads of experience, but you do need enthusiasm, commitment and the ability to work with other like-minded young people.

Supported by: The Leverhulme Trust, Carntyne Trust, John S Cohen Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Hope Scott Trust and Scottish Opera’s Education Angels.

Audition Bursary Prize

The Leverhulme Trust is kindly supporting the Audition Bursary Prize, providing bursaries and scholarships to dozens of young people across Scotland so they can access our annual Scottish Opera Young Company programme.

We are pleased to announce the following recipients of the Audition Bursary Prize so far:

  • Dillon McFarlane
  • Ruaraidh McBain

Find out more about the Audition Bursary Prize here

Scottish Opera Young Company

Jan 2022 to Jul 2022

For 17 to 23 year olds

Scottish Opera Young Company offers outstanding training for exceptional young performers who want to experience working within a professional opera company. Participants will enjoy sessions with an established vocal coach, have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with international guest artists, and closely observe the work of Scottish Opera both in rehearsal and performance.

The programme will be delivered over 10 weekends (including Friday evenings) between January 2022 and July 2022, with a full week of rehearsals before the performances in the Summer. All applicants must be able to read music.

Applications for the Scottish Opera Young Company 2021/22 session are now closed 

SOYC Gateway

11-16 July 2022

For 14 to 17 year olds

If you feel you’re not ready for Scottish Opera Young Company, our Gateway programme provides an immersive experience in Opera Making for aspiring young singers. This is a non-auditioned programme and there is no need for any previous stage experience, though you do need to have loads of enthusiasm and be able to read music.

Gateway provides an opportunity to collaborate with professional workshop leaders to explore opera through a variety of different styles. There will be sessions focusing on chorus singing, acting, stagecraft, movement, language and theatre design (set and costume) skills.

Gateway members also get to observe sessions with SOYC and receive a ticket for their 2022 production.

The Gateway programme is delivered over an intensive six day course from 11-16 July 2022.

Applications for SOYC Gateway 2022 session will open in May 2022