Master of Music in Opera Performance

Department

Program Overview

Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s highly selective opera performance master’s program accepts a limited number of students and prepares them for vibrant opera careers through specialized performance and audition training, a broad range of opportunities to perform publicly and refine musicianship, and focused studies in career building and entrepreneurship.

Performance opportunities are plentiful at the Conservatory. In addition to enrolling in the Conservatory’s top performing ensemble, Opera Studio, opera graduate students are cast in fully staged operas, concert operas, operas for young audiences, and opera scenes. Students can also participate in choral ensembles, contemporary music ensembles, chamber music recitals, and many more.

Off campus, opera graduate students are encouraged to involve themselves in Greater Boston’s various opera and oratorio music organizations, including Boston Opera Collaborative, Boston Midsummer Opera, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Metrowest Opera, Opera on Tap Boston, Emmanuel Music, The Bach Institute, and various church soloist and choir opportunities, to name a few.  Additionally, students have the opportunity to visit and be inspired by Boston’s variety of cultural and arts organizations, including Boston Baroque, Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Huntington Theatre Company, and the American Repertory Theatre.

Throughout the program, students work closely with esteemed faculty members in private lessons to hone their artistic skills and build on their vocal technique in order to prepare for professional and semi-professional auditions and engagements. Students are therefore expected to expand their list of audition and performance repertoire, compile professional materials, and begin to clearly articulate their performance goals and aspirations. Meanwhile, students have regular exposure to high-profile artists performing with the nearby Boston Lyric Opera or Boston Symphony Orchestra. These guest artists give master classes to Conservatory students that offer supplemental artistic guidance and career advice.

Recent master class teachers include:

  • Susan Ashbaker
  • Ken Benson
  • Christine Brewer
  • Julia Bullock
  • William Burden
  • Cori Ellison
  • Michael Heaston
  • Rachelle Jonck
  • Sandra Piques Eddy
  • Nadine Sierra
  • Frederica von Stade
  • Dawn Upshaw

How to apply