TRANSITIONS

As Described by the Concise Oxford Dictionary; Transition is the passage of change from one place or set of circumstances to another.

The Transition Program is designed to provide the opportunity and preparation to singers for employment in the European Opera Theatres whcih are able to employ non - Europeans.

NEW
It is common knowledge that Canada does not have a market large enough to sustain her world marketable classical music artists. By excluding performers from the 63 categories of people exporting their services under the NAFTA agreement, performers must go through immigration to perform in the United States. The European Common Market reserves many performance and training centres for Europeans. Only a few major presenters are available to Canadian artists.

Objectives of this project include:

a) establishing employment opportunities in European opera houses,
b)to enable artists to survive in foreign touring,
c)as Ambassadors the artists will exchange cultural and social values to encourage tourism to Canada.

WHAT : A new program; a competition for specific roles in productions of opera with orchestra

WHERE: Italy

WHEN:
Repertoire: announced in September 2006
Auditions/competition; February 2007
Performances: Fall 2007

WHO: Young professional singers who are ready for experience in performing fully staged opera productions.

HOW: Recommendations from teachers, coaches, conductors, managers, and other professionals for audition in Toronto in February 2007. Semi-Finals and Finals will be public performances.

COST:
Expenses to audition and compete in Toronto, February 2007.
Living costs 5 months (estimated at $ 1,200 per month) in Italy.

PROVIDED: All coachings, rehearsals, preparation.

FEES TO ARTISTS: Performance fees will be paid commensurate with roles played.

All information and terms subject to change.

"Canadians need to be pushed, just as Russians and Italians need to be calmed down. The Resource Centre must be understood by sponsors and government. It is a profession that gives the country something....The way one can say that Italy has great singers...Canada could eventually say that too."
--Renata Scotto, Rome

"What a pleasure it was to come to Toronto to work with the young people in your Resource Centre...We all know what an enormous amount of preparation it takes to be able to compete in the singing market, and I am encouraged to see that young Canadians are willing to acquire the skills that will make their goals easier."
--Nico Castel, Tenor (retired)
Language coach, Metropolitan Opera

"I wish we had your career workshops and seminars in New York. There would be far fewer perplexed young dancers in the studios and a lot more fulfilled professionals."
--Marion Horosko, Associate Editor,
Dance Magazine