Orchestra

Saluzzo Opera Academy Summer Program in Italy

Le nozze di Figaro: July 1 - 29
or
Suor Angelica: July 31 - August 27

Saluzzo Opera Academy ORCHESTRA

Come join our orchestra family and be guided by world-class conductors through an exciting summer of musical development. The Saluzzo Opera Academy Orchestra – a chamber orchestra - includes our most promising and talented instrumentalists.

Apply

Our Final Application Deadline for our upcoming summer season is May 1st, 2023

All SOA applicants are also considered for Berlin Opera Academy.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

Performing Italian opera in Italy is an invaluable experience we wish to share. Participants will look forward to an immersive experience in a school set in a 14th century monastery, adapted to state-of-the-art music education. In order to keep an intimate performance experience, SOA uses chamber reductions. Musicians are welcomed to all classes and instruction including:

A place in Saluzzo Opera Academy’s Orchestra playing for the summer festival operas
Participation in a chamber music concert
Italian language class
Instrumental audition training
Daily access to practice rooms
Auditing access to all SOA activities
Conducting workshops
Masterclasses

Click here to read about a typical orchestra day at the Saluzzo Opera Academy’s summer program

ORCHESTRATION

SESSION 1:

Le nozze di Figaro - Mozart

Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn
Trumpet
Timpani
Violins
Violas
Cellos
Basses

SESSION 2:

Suor Angelica - Puccini (*Panizza reduction)

Flute (+ Piccolo)
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn
Trumpet
Violins
Violas
Cellos
Basses

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

We ask that you upload two recordings that best display your musical abilities. We recommend one excerpt from an operatic or symphonic work and one solo or piano-accompanied piece, however, you may submit any recordings that you feel showcase your playing. The recordings do not need to be professional nor from a performance. Video is preferred, but audio-only is also accepted. Recordings must be submitted via link (eg: Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud etc). If using Youtube, please ensure your videos are uploaded as either Unlisted or Public videos (not Private).

TUITION:

Saluzzo Opera Academy strives to guide young musicians on their next steps towards a career as a professional. The program entails one or both of two 2-week periods in the summer.

€500: Per Session SOA Orchestra Tuition (One 3-week session)
Single Session or Double Session Shared-Room Accommodation is available to request during registration. Please note that accommodation is not included in the tuition fee.

Musicians are welcome to book SOA accommodation or elect to find independent accommodation. Add-ons such as airport transfer package and private room accommodation are also available.

You may also wish to add on our optional Transportation Package or Wine Tour for 300€ each.

Transportation Package: we purchase your train travel from Torino or Milano to Savigliano, then drive you to your accommodation.

Wine Tour: a day-excursion to two Italian wineries. On the day you will also visit an Italian castle and village, have a multi-course lunch featuring local Piedmont cuisine (paired with wine, of course), and get chauffeured around in a private, air-conditioned bus.

At SOA you will experience one of Italy’s most charming cities, work under top conductors, and gain the skills necessary to work in a professional orchestra, all while enjoying some of operas’ greatest masterpieces.

Conductor

Kevin Class

Born in Belgium, pianist and conductor Kevin Class studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, as well as in the U.S and Canada. In 1997, the Belgian government named Kevin a Fellow of the Flemish Community in recognition both of his performances of the complete Piano Sonatas of Mozart and Schubert, and for his contributions to the performance and promotion of contemporary music, with Jan-Marisse Huizing describing him as “an important ambassador for today’s composers”.

Kevin has been active for more than 30 years as an orchestra and opera conductor. With a repertoire of more than 60 operas, Kevin has taken the podium of the National Opera La Monnaie in Brussels, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the National Opera Studio in London, Shanghai Opera and Opera Illinois (Peoria). From 2001-2005 he served as Guest Music Director and Resident Conductor of the Illinois Opera Theatre. He has conducted the Northern Illinois Philharmonic, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Illinois New Music Ensemble, Ensemble Noir’ (Brussels) and orchestras in Taipei, Shanghai, Chongqing, Seoul, Kunming, Kuala Lumpur and Manila. He has helped train numerous young conductors who have appeared with such orchestras as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Miami Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Orchestra and numerous opera houses.

Additional 2019-20 performances include continued collaborations with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra concertmaster on KSO’s concert series William Shaub & Friends, conducting Tennessee Opera Theatre’s productions of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief & Amelia al ballo, and concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with performances of the complete Piano Trios with the Edison Piano Trio, and the complete Sonatas for Piano & Cello, with Wesley Baldwin.

Kevin is currently Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano and Music Director & Conductor of Opera Theatre at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. Since 2014, Kevin has been conductor at Italy’s Arezzo Opera Festival. He also serves as head of the conducting and collaborative piano programs for Oberlin Conservatory’s summer program, Oberlin in Italy.

He has been profiled by BBC, NPR, PBS, Radio Noord Holland, KBS (Korea) and CCTV (China).