Program Information
Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) will launch the inaugural season of its Resident Artist Program in summer 2026!
This eight-week paid residency will provide valuable performance opportunities and highly competitive professional development for promising emerging singers and early-career pianists. In addition to training in all facets of an operatic career with BOF’s artistic staff and other industry professionals, Resident Artists will perform in recitals, private salons, and public masterclasses.
The culmination of each year’s residency will be performing principal roles in a fully-staged production with orchestra at the end of July. Artists will also remain in residence for the month of August to cover and perform roles in BOF’s mainstage production.
KEY PROGRAM PERSONNEL:
Lynn Baker, Director of the Resident Artist Program
Brian Garman, BOF Artistic Director and Co-founder
Natalie Johnsonius Neubert, BOF President and CEO
Audition Dates and Locations
Boston
Sunday, November 2, 2025
(application deadline: Friday, September 19)
Cincinnati
Saturday, November 15, 2025
(application deadline: Friday, October 3)
New York City
Friday, December 12, 2025
(application deadline: Friday, October 31)
Program Details
Program Dates
Monday, July 6 through
Friday, August 28, 2026
Location
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Positions Available
in 2026
4 singers
- lyric coloratura soprano
- lyric mezzo-soprano
-lyric tenor
-lyric baritone
1 pianist
2026 Resident Artist Production
Zémire et Azor (Beauty and the Beast) by André Grétry
Sung in French with spoken English dialogue
Fully staged with orchestra
July 2026
Resident Artists will perform principal roles.
2026 BOF Mainstage Production
Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti
Sung in Italian
Fully staged with orchestra
August 2026
Resident Artists will cover principal roles and perform supporting roles.
Berkshire Opera Festival uses YAP Tracker to collect and review applications for our Resident Artist Program for Singers and Pianists. You do not need to be a paying subscriber to YAP Tracker to use the application form, although you will need an account (guest accounts are available; see the website for details). Registration can be completed at YAP Tracker.