Children’s Chorus
Choral and solo singing roles are cast from among children who are admitted to the Children’s Chorus and participate in ongoing training. During the school year, choristers attend two weekly classes at the Met Opera House. When a child is invited to perform in a production, guardians will be asked to commit to the child’s attendance at all costume fittings, rehearsals, and performances, except for reasons of illness. Participants may also be considered for non-singing roles.
Program Structure
For children admitted into the chorus, classes are the core of the education program. During the school year, it is expected that each child will attend classes at the opera house twice per week.
The Beginners Class will teach specific skills of breathing and correct use of the body for singing in a classical style without amplification in a large auditorium. Beginners may also be offered the opportunity to audition for non-singing roles in Met productions, so that they may gain comfort and experience on stage.
The Advanced Class will teach more sophisticated skills and operatic repertoire to children who have made sufficient progress to graduate from the Beginners Class. Children in the Advanced Class will have the opportunity to audition for both singing and non-singing roles in Met productions.
Requirements
Participation in the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus requires a commitment to class. Children are expected to make progress in the skills taught in order to continue as part of the program.
Additional Information
The Met performs on Monday through Saturday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and on some Sunday afternoons. Operas are rarely repeated on successive nights; instead, an opera may be performed two or three times in a week and may run for four to six weeks of performances.
For each production, there are usually five or six studio rehearsals held after school, in the evening, or on Saturdays, followed by an equal number of onstage rehearsals—weekdays between 9:30AM and 3:30PM—scheduled in compliance with New York State child labor law.