Started in 2007, the Young Artist Program at Sugar Creek Symphony & Song is a valuable summer intensive program that provides experience and training to talented, degreed artists who are starting out in their careers. Each year, the Young Artist Program has grown in size and stature. During the 2009 festival, young artists performed their own full opera production of The Tender Land by Aaron Copland. They were in the chorus of the mainstage opera, Pagliacci. They received acting courses and a class on the business of singing, and they were able to solicit career counseling from the mainstage artists, directors, and producers who have decades of experience in the industry.

Auditions » Auditions are now closed for the 2010 festival. » Registration Deadline: Dec. 30, 2009 » Audition Dates: Feb. 2010 in Chicago, IL and Cleveland, OH » How to Register: Apply through YAPtracker.com. » Fee: $25 » Accompanist: An accompanist will be provided for your audition.

Plans for the 2010 Festival Participants in the 2010 Young Artist Program will take on several important roles during the festival: » Young artists perform their own opera. In 2010, young artists will perform all roles in our production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. » Young artists will play supporting roles in the mainstage opera, Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia. » Cover assignments. Some young artists will be selected to cover for principals in Il barbiere di Siviglia. » Special events. Some young artists will be selected to perform at outreach functions and donor events.

How Young Artists Benefit The benefits to young artists are many: » Intense personal coaching on audition arias » Specific scene work and roles » Participation in master classes with guest faculty, mainstage singers and conductors » Performance opportunities at community outreach and donor events » Performance opportunities in the mainstage production at the summer festival » Performance opportunitites in the young artist opera at the summer festival » Possible assignment to cover roles in the mainstage opera

Our YAPs: Talented, Educated & Exceptional The 2009 season included 21 young artists from all over the country. Their previous training represented some of the most prestigious music schools in the country. Most young artists were between 25 and 30 years of age, although a few were younger, and most had already received their masters degree in voice performance. All were outstanding for their exceptional level of talent and skill, as well as the energy and vitality that they brought to our productions.

Travel & Housing Young artists may be eligible to receive travel assistance, depending on their distance from Watseka, Illinois. They are also given free host family housing during their stay.