Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

Audition Guidelines – Singers

This page contains information about the Jette Parker Artists Programme and the audition
process for singers. For any questions not answered here, please contact
[email protected].

Being a Jette Parker Artist

Jette Parker singers are full-time salaried employees with the Royal Opera for 24 months
running for two Seasons. They receive a basic salary plus occasional additional payments for
performing.
N/As may occasionally be granted for concerts and recitals if compatible with Programme
commitments, but longer periods of absence for full productions elsewhere are not
possible.

Applications
Applications will open on Monday 29 August 2022, and the deadline for receiving
applications is Friday 23 September.
We anticipate inviting up to 30 singers to live auditions in London.
Shortlisted singers for the 2-year programme from Autumn 2023 will be invited to one of
two live audition periods, either 27 October - 4 November 2022 or 10 November - 18
November 2022.
These are fixed dates. However, if an applicant is unavailable during either period, they
should specify this on their application. This will not disqualify them but helps greatly with
administration.

Application Process
Applications must be made via the YAP Tracker website by Friday 23 September 2022.
The following will be required:

• Recent audio recordings of the applicant’s voice, presenting three contrasting arias. *
• Two confidential references by industry professionals.
The references must be written specifically for the application and uploaded by the
referees directly to the YAP Tracker website before the deadline.
• A curriculum vitae of maximum two pages
• A recent photograph
Page 1 of 6
 Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

• A completed Jette Parker Artists Programme Equal Opportunities questionnaire found

at the end of the application form.
This information will not be made available to the audition panel, but will help the
ROH to monitor and be accountable for its equal opportunities and diversity objectives
*The recording must be a full single-capture of each aria without editing. Please select
contrasting pieces that show us the range and capability of your voice; pieces you have
studied well and are within your capacity to sing well now.
The status of the application will appear on the YAP Tracker website and it is the applicant’s
responsibility to ensure all elements of the application, including references, have been
uploaded by both themselves and their referees before the deadline.

Audition Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the Royal Opera House for a period of 9 days, during
which they will have a practical taste of the Jette Parker Artists Programme and The Royal
Opera. The schedule will include a variety of coaching as well as singing to a panel.
Singers must bring five contrasting arias and one art song of their choosing, and will be
asked to prepare a short scene from memory which they will be given in advance.
Applicants must email their list of five arias and one art song in advance, and bring three
copies of the music (vocal score) of all their offered repertory to the live auditions.

Who can apply

Applicants should be singers of exceptional talent at the start of their professional careers.
In most cases you will have some performance experience and have completed a music
degree, although neither is essential. Applications for the Programme are accepted from all
countries and all nationalities. The Programme is not seeking any specific voice types and
there is no fixed age limit for applicants. However, the panel will consider the stage that an
artist has reached in their career and how two years on the Programme would support your
artistic and career development at this time.

Do applicants need permission to work in the UK to apply for the

Programme?
There is no obligation to have permission to work in the UK in advance in order to apply for
the Programme. If applicants are offered a place on the Programme and require a visa, the
Royal Opera House will apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship and write a Letter of Invitation
to support that singer’s application.

Page 2 of 6
 Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

What does it cost to apply?

There is no application fee for the Programme; however, YAP Tracker charges a small
administration fee (plus credit card charges where applicable).

Do I need to subscribe to YAP Tracker to apply?

No. All applicants have to log in with a user ID and password to upload their materials and
submit applications, but free applicant-only accounts are available
at www.yaptracker.com/register-applicant.

Can I use my friend’s account to apply?

No, YAP Tracker accounts cannot be shared. The system prevents duplicate submissions on
any one account.

How do I complete a YAP Tracker application?

Once applicants have registered, they should log in and carefully read the application
requirements. They should then upload all the required submission materials, and submit
the form with payment.

What do I do if I have problems uploading my application to YAP Tracker?

If applicants have problems uploading any part of the application or have other technical
issues with YAP Tracker, they should contact the YAP Tracker help team
on [email protected]. The JPAP Assistant is not able to help with technical questions.

How to submit recommendations

All applications must include two recommendations written by industry professionals, and
preferably not the applicant’s regular singing teacher. These should be a frank assessment
of the candidate’s abilities, including any areas requiring refinement.
When completing the application form on YAP Tracker, the applicant should include the
names and contact details of their referees. The website will then send an automated email
to the referees asking them to upload their recommendations directly to the website.
Recommendations cannot be accepted in any other way. Find out more about how the
recommendation process works.

Page 3 of 6
 Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

There is space on the application to include the names and contact details of up to four
referees. All referees listed will be invited by the automated system to upload a reference/.
You may find it a useful safety measure to list more than 2 referees in case your first choice
referees fail to upload by the deadline, however the panel will only consider two of the
references submitted. A minimum of two references must be uploaded by the deadline for
your application to be considered.

Deadline for recommendations

Two recommendations must be uploaded to YAP Tracker before the deadline, otherwise the
application will be rejected. The applicants are themselves responsible for ensuring that
their application is complete. The applicants should contact their referees in plenty of time
to ensure they are happy to upload a recommendation in advance of the deadline.
Applicants should check their application status regularly here to check that both their
recommendations have been uploaded.
It is the responsibility of the applicant, not the Programme, to chase and upload missing
elements before the deadline.
NB If recommendations are still pending, it may be because the request email went into the
referee’s spam folder. The applicants are themselves responsible for contacting their
referees to check if they have received the request email. If one or both recommendations
is still missing close to the deadline, applicants may enter contact details of up to two
additional people in order to ensure they reach the required number of recommendations.
See the YAP Tracker website for instructions for resending a recommendation request,
changing referees’ email addresses and adding or changing referees,
and email [email protected] to make changes to the referees if the application has
already been submitted.

Contents of recommendations
Recommendations must be written specifically for this application. They should ideally
contain the following information: how the referee knows the applicant, how long they have
worked with the applicant, the applicant’s career potential, musicality, command of
languages, reliability, learning speed and working relationships with colleagues.

Length of recommendations
There is no set number of words, but referees should bear in mind that the selection panel
will review a large number of applications and appreciate clear and concise information.

Page 4 of 6
 Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

Language for recommendations

References may be written in English, French, German, or Italian. References in any other
language must be accompanied by an English translation (although this does not have to be
officially certified).

Auditions

Where are auditions held?

Currently, all auditions are held in London at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Who will be in the audition?

As of July 2022 the panel is expected to include some or all of the following ROH staff and
external assessors: David Gowland (Artistic Director, JPAP), Richard Hetherington (Head of
Music, The Royal Opera), Peter Katona (Director of Casting, The Royal Opera), Yvonne Kenny
(soprano), Elaine Kidd (Head of JPAP), Oliver Mears (Director of Opera) and Kate Wyatt or
Sarah Crabtree (Creative Producer). A representative of Oak Foundation may also attend.

What repertory can be presented for the audition?

Applicants should bring five contrasting arias and an art song/Lied. The arias may include
(but do not have to include) the three arias uploaded with the application. As a general rule,
operetta arias are acceptable and arias from oratorios are not, although this depends on
how ‘operatic’ they are. If in any doubt, please inform [email protected] of any
repertoire choice whose validity you wish to check.

What language can the art song be in?

The art song must be in one of the following languages: Czech, English, French, German,
Italian, Russian.

Who will accompany the audition?

A pianist is provided for all auditions. Applicants may not bring their own pianist.

Page 5 of 6
 Jette Parker Artists Programme | Singers 2023-3025

What audition wear is appropriate?

Normal daytime audition dress is suitable. Please bring comfortable clothing for movement
sessions.

Bringing people to your audition

All auditions are closed and applicants may not bring friends, relatives, singing teachers,
agents or their own pianist to the audition. The panel speak Italian, French and German as
well as English.
If you require the support of a translator, access worker or other assistance please contact
[email protected]

Visas for attending auditions

Visa applications for attending auditions are not handled by the Royal Opera House.
Applicants who are invited to audition and need a visa to do so can be sent a Letter of
Invitation to take to the local British Embassy/Consulate to apply for a visa. Please
contact [email protected] as soon as possible if this is required as soon as possible.

Financial assistance for attending auditions

The Programme does not provide any financial assistance towards attending the auditions
and does not refund travel or accommodation expenses for attending the audition week.
We are however open to conversations about financial support for shortlisted candidates to
attend the final audition process in London in exceptional circumstances. Please do not let
that be a barrier to applying in the first instance.

Page 6 of 6