Glyndebourne Youth Opera Performance Projects
Enabling local young people to access world-class operatic experiences and performance opportunities.
Perform at Glyndebourne
We are excited to announce applications are now open for auditions to find young singers to perform in either Puccini’s La bohème or Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream during Autumn Season 2025.
As part of the audition process, we will prepare participants by exploring the music and story of both operas. Our Vocal Talent Consultant Mary King will lead the sessions with Assistant Vocal Coach Rhiannon Llewellyn, GYO Music Director Ashley Beauchamp and a team of creative professionals. Together we will explore singing, movement, and language to ensure participants feel prepared and comfortable ahead of the audition.
We are looking for 9-13 year olds who are strong singers and actors, with excellent focus and ability to take direction.
- Friday 30 May, 10.00am – 5.00pm at East Sussex College, Lewes
- Saturday 31 May, 10.00am – 5.00pm at East Sussex College, Lewes
- Sunday 1 June, 10.00am – 2.00pm at East Sussex College, Lewes
This is a full weekend commitment with preparatory workshops on the Friday and Saturday, followed by auditions on the Sunday.
- Application deadline: Sunday 11 May at 11.59pm
- Audition preparatory Workshops: Friday 30 & Saturday 31 May
- Audition: Sunday 1 June
- Coaching Sessions: Monday 25 – Friday 29 August
- Rehearsal period: Starts 1 September
- Performance dates: 11 October – 2 November
- A full schedule of rehearsals and performances can be found here
- Aged 9 – 13 years on 30 May 2025
- Live within 25 miles of Glyndebourne
- Available for all of the rehearsal and performance dates
- Have taken part in a Glyndebourne Youth Opera workshop within the last 2 years
- Gained permission from school (see notes below)
There will be one week of GYO coaching sessions, ahead of the six week production rehearsal period for the young performers with the cast and director. Once the young performers start to work with our director, they are very much part of the professional cast and are treated as such. Throughout the process they will be supervised and supported by a team of professional licenced chaperones at all times.
Production rehearsals take place during the daytime in the week, and young performers will need to miss school to attend these rehearsals, although schedules are carefully arranged to avoid too much disruption to school education. We will need a letter of permission from your child’s school headteacher in order to apply for a child performance licence, which is a legal requirement.
Young performers must be available for all shows – there is no option to miss a performance.
Being part of a Glyndebourne production is a big commitment but a really exciting opportunity!
Please note: Audition places are limited. We will aim to accommodate as many applicants as possible and will be in touch to confirm places by Monday 19 May, following application reviews.
We are looking ahead to winter 2025 with an exciting opportunity to be a part of our fabulous festive Christmas Concerts; a celebration for all the family featuring the Glyndebourne Chorus and the Glyndebourne Sinfonia.
We are looking for young singers aged between 9 – 13 years old to perform a variety of festive classics in December 2025.
Auditions will be on Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 June 2025. Further details on how to apply will be available soon.
Please note that places in the Christmas concerts will be offered to members of GYO who have not already been cast in La bohème or A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Autumn 2025.
- Auditions: Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 June
- Rehearsal period: Sunday 2 November – Friday 5 December
- Performance dates: Sunday 7 December, Friday 12 December, Saturday 13 December
- Aged between 9 – 13 years old
- Upper (unbroken) voices only: treble, soprano and alto
- Live within 25 miles of Glyndebourne
- Available for all of the rehearsal and performance dates (to be announced soon)
- Have taken part in a GYO workshop within the last 2 years
Glyndebourne Youth Opera (GYO) offers local young people the opportunity to perform on Glyndebourne’s world-famous stage in Festival productions, concerts, the Autumn Season and more.
Most recently, over 100 GYO performers and community chorus members came together to fill the stage for the premiere of Uprising. Previous productions that GYO participants have performed in include Carmen (2024), La bohème (2022) and The Cunning Little Vixen (2016), as well as joining the Glyndebourne chorus for the annual Glyndebourne Christmas Concerts.
“Extraordinary, amazing and a once in a life time experience” GYO La bohème performer
“ He has enjoyed it so much and made some brilliant friends…Not only has it coloured his childhood in the best possible way, but it has set him up with skills and a passion that will last him a lifetime.” Parent of GYO Carmen performer
“Rehearsing with the cast and the London Philharmonic Orchestra was the best experience of my life and the whole process is very welcoming and friendly.” GYO La bohème performer
Image credits: Richard Hubert Smith and Sarah Hickson
We strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. If there are ways we can support individuals to participate in the application and auditions process (e.g. sending schedules and timetables in advance), please get in touch with us at takepart@glyndebourne.com.
We promote equality, diversity and inclusion and actively encourage applications from those whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented in the world of opera.
If you would like to receive further details of GYO workshops and performance projects, you can join the GYO mailing list and receive updates throughout the year.
You can also get in contact with any questions by email to takepart@glyndebourne.com or by calling 01273 815 023.
Glyndebourne’s Learning & Engagement programme is made possible thanks to Arts Council England and generous donations through Glyndebourne’s New Generation Programme.
