Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance)

The study of opera within the master's degree contributes to a comprehensive, research and practice-based opera training for singers who face a highly competitive and dynamic career path.

The course recognises the need to connect students to national and international professional practice, and to give them the knowledge, understanding, expertise and personal skills to compete in an increasingly competitive international market. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music has an outstanding record for producing opera singers and is uniquely placed in Australia to produce young singers who find work on national and international opera stages.

This course provides excellent training in the four key areas of opera voice and performance, opera repertoire, opera diction/language and stage skills. Each of these is drawn together in staged accompanied performances of operas, providing students with experience at a professional level which helps to equip them to enter the profession.

Applicants should be at least 21 years old by 1 March of the year in which they intend to enrol.

Language requirements for international candidates

An IELTS level of 7.0 with no component below 6.5 is required for entry to these degrees.

Course structure

The Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) is designed to meet the needs of advanced graduates and young professional singers who wish to extend their performance skills and knowledge in the context of operatic repertoire and current professional practice.

The course aim to develop and refine the technical and interpretive qualities of the student’s voice as an operatic instrument, developing self-sufficiency in repertoire choice and role selection, preparation and performance. There is a strong focus on text-related matters in various kinds of vocal music to foster the development of skills as an interpreter in the major operatic languages, and on the stage skills required for opera.

Candidates take weekly lessons and vocal coaching, Italian, French and German, acting, movement and stagecraft. They participate in master classes, ensemble rehearsals and staged performances to develop skills as an operatic performer, with particular emphasis on character (role) building, effective stage presentation, understanding of emotional context and general communication skills.

In the Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) all students will also complete a capstone experience that unites the themes of the course in a major fully-documented, performance-as-research performance portfolio.

All students enrolled in the Opera program will be required to participate in stage productions.

Typical enrolment patterns

The program is normally available only for full-time study. The following table shows the normal full-time enrolment pattern for the Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance).

Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance)