Organizer Information
Musikkultur Rheinsberg gGmbH — including the Musikakademie and Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg — is a major German institution dedicated to professional music development, opera training, and performance. It supports emerging artists through residencies, workshops, and stage experiences, with a long-standing tradition of fostering young opera talent.
Opera Collective Ireland (OCI) is a professional opera company that specializes in creating opportunities for emerging Irish opera artists, producing innovative performances, and facilitating international collaborations.
Together, these two organizations partner in the Erasmus+ research project “Opera Bridge”, aimed at empowering early-career opera singers entering the European opera market.
Title & Description
Opera Bridge – From Early Career to European Stage
This program is a comprehensive, Erasmus+ funded career-development initiative designed specifically for emerging opera singers transitioning from higher education into the professional European sector. Through a combination of six months of digital training, intensive on-site workshops in Rheinsberg, and a final showcase concert, the program equips participants with crucial skills for sustainable long-term career planning.
Opera Bridge emphasizes peer collaboration, specifically recognizing participants as co-creators of knowledge, and preparing them for real-world professional dynamics such as self-marketing, financial management, performance versatility, and navigating the competitive European opera landscape.
Categories
- Opera Performance
- Vocal Arts
- Career Development for Singers
- Performing Arts Training (Camera Acting, Audition Techniques, Stage Practice)
Eligibility
- Emerging opera singers from Germany or Ireland
- Holders of at least a Master’s degree (or equivalent)
- With some professional operatic experience
- Not permanently employed or attached to any opera institution
- In a phase of professional orientation
Program Benefits & Awards
- Participation is fully free of charge
- Travel, accommodation, and meals are covered for the in-person training in Rheinsberg
- High-level artistic coaching (digital + in-person)
- Collaboration in German–Irish tandems
- Optional weekly check-ins for personalized support
- Showcase Concert in the Kammeroper Rheinsberg, including a professional recording for your portfolio
- Tailored career-planning skills, self-marketing training, insurance/financial knowledge
- Direct mentoring from industry professionals
Application Fee
No Entry fee
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Completed Application Form
- Motivation Video (max. 2 minutes) expressing interest in sustainable opera career development
- Submission must be complete for consideration
- Applications will be selected after document review
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 4 January 2026
- Digital Modules: February, April, and June 2026
- On-Site Training in Rheinsberg: 27–29 July 2026
- Showcase Concert: 30 July 2026
Location
- Digital modules (online)
- In-person training & final concert in Rheinsberg, Germany
Additional Details
- Participants work in German–Irish tandems to compare national artistic realities.
- The program includes a blend of digital workshops and intensive in-person coaching.
- Showcase performance eligibility depends on completing the workshop components.
- The initiative aims to build resilience, sustainable career planning, and long-term artistic development strategies.
