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EMPLOYMENT AND AUDITIONS

CHORUS

BOF announces auditions for the Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus for our summer 2025 mainstage production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. Auditions will be held for the following chorus sections:

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SOPRANOS
ALTOS
TENORS
BARITONES/BASSES

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Successful applicants will be added to the Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus roster.

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We will hold auditions concurrently for the following comprimario (“bit”) role in La Traviata, which will be cast from the chorus:

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ANNINA (soprano)

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Auditions will be held Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 1:30-5:30 PM in Great Barrington, MA. Candidates must prepare two arias or art songs, at least one of which must be in French or Italian. To apply, please send a one-page resume to BOF’s Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor, Luca Antonucci, before January 5. You will be notified of your exact audition time and location no later than January 9. Please note that an audition is not guaranteed.

 

An accompanist will be provided for these auditions free of charge.

 

All choristers are paid. The singer chosen to play Annina will receive a separate, per-performance fee. Rehearsals will begin during the last week of July 2025, with performances at the end of August. Chorus rehearsals are held on selected evenings and weekends.

President and Chief Executive Officer 

 

BOF is seeking applications for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from individuals with broad practical experience in opera or other performing arts company management and fundraising. BOF is seeking an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader who will steer the company in the realization of its short-term and long-range goals. The CEO will report to the Board of Directors and will also serve as President of the Board, working in close collaboration with BOF's co-founders who serve as the Artistic Director and the Director of Production. This is a full-time position with residence year-round in the Berkshires.

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Full details of the position and instructions on how to apply can be found HERE.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITES

ORCHESTRA

BOF announces auditions for the following positions in the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra:

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PRINCIPAL SECOND VIOLIN
SECTION VIOLIN (3 positions)
PRINCIPAL DOUBLE BASS

 

All auditionees will also be considered for the substitute list. BOF’s upcoming season includes a gala concert and a mainstage production of Verdi’s La Traviata in August 2025.

 

Auditions will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025 in New York City. Specific audition excerpts can be found below. To apply, please send a one-page resume to BOF’s personnel manager, Deane Prouty, before February 8. You will be notified of your audition time and location no later than February 15. Please note that an audition is not guaranteed. The audition committee of Berkshire Opera Festival reserves the right to dismiss immediately any candidate not meeting the highest professional standards.

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Rehearsals for this season begin on August 13, 2025, with performances on August 14, 23, 26, and 29, 2025. There will be a total of 13 services. Berkshire Opera Festival is an equal opportunity employer.

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VIOLIN EXCERPTS


SOLO REPERTOIRE
MOZART Concerto No. 5 in A Major: 1st movement (without accompaniment)

 

ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS
(Violin I parts from the following)
GOUNOD Faust Act 3, #12 “Salut, demeure”: solos mm. 6 – end
PUCCINI Madama Butterfly Act 1: beginning – 5th bar of [3]; Act 3: [10] – [13]
R. STRAUSS Don Juan: beginning – 13th bar of [C]
VERDI Don Carlo Act 5, #15 “Tu che le vanità”: 3 before [B] – 7th bar of [C]
VERDI Falstaff Act 1, scene 1: 8th bar of [13] – 1 before [14]

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ADDITIONAL EXCERPT FOR PRINCIPAL VIOLIN II AUDITION
SMETANA Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) Overture: mm. 1 – 58 (Violin II part)


PDFs of these excerpts can be found HERE.
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PRINCIPAL DOUBLE BASS EXCERPTS


SOLO REPERTOIRE
VANHAL Concerto (in C or D): 1st movement (without accompaniment)

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ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS
MOZART Le Nozze di Figaro Overture: mm. 1 – 24
ROSSINI Il Barbiere di Siviglia Overture: mm. 225 – 261
SMETANA Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) Overture: beginning – 5th bar of [A]
R. STRAUSS Salome: 4 before [216] – 7th bar of [221] (play top line in divisi)
VERDI Otello Act 4: [U] – 7th bar of [X]
WAGNER Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Overture: [J] – end

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PDFs of these excerpts can be found HERE.

SUPERNUMERARIES

(Non-Singing Actors/Extras)

For information about how to be a supernumerary in BOF's future seasons, please contact Director of Production Jonathon Loy.

VOLUNTEER

Berkshire Opera Festival offers a variety of volunteer opportunities.  Donating your time helps BOF keep our promise of fiscal responsibility while giving you the chance to interact with our exceptional artists and patrons – and have a great time doing it!

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BOF staff will periodically reach out with new volunteer opportunities, such as:

  • General office assistance

  • Artist pick up/drop off from the airport or train station

  • Community outreach

  • Distributing marketing materials

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