• The Conservatorium
  • About us
  • The building
  • Management and staff
  • Location
  • Business relations
  • Former students
  • Credits / disclaimer
• Studying at the Conservatorium
  • Young talents
  • Preparatory courses
  • Bachelor's degree progammes
  • Master degree programmes
  • Workshops, masterclasses and summer schools
  • Other courses
  • Facilities
  • career perspectives
  • International contacts
  • Vision / Quality assurance
• Study programmes
  • Classical music
  • Jazz
  • Pop Music
  • Early Music
  • Music in Education
  • Opera
• Practical matters
  • Application and admission
  • Visa procedures
  • Upon arrival
  • Financial matters
  • FAQ
  • Contact
• News and agenda
  • Agenda
  • News
  • Prize-winners
  • Open days
  • Keep an Eye Jazz Award

As a preparation for the audition for the Dutch National Opera Academy, advanced students may be eligible to take part in the supplementary (one-year) operatic orientation course ('Oriëntatiecursus Opera'), see Voice.

Learning Objective
On the basis of general knowledge, knowledge relating both generally to music and specifically to opera, insight, skills and attitudes, the graduate will be able to work as a professional opera singer in accordance with traditional standards and in an artistically sound manner. The graduate will have sufficiently developed critical introspection to evaluate and, if necessary, adjust his/her knowledge, insight, skills and attitudes.

Admissions
The entrance examination for Dutch National Opera Academy is open to students with a bachelor's degree in voice with an overall score of at least 8 out of 10, unless the admissions committee decides otherwise. The audition consists of two rounds: a vocal audition before a committee, for which the candidate must prepare a programme with three contrasting opera arias, one of which contains a recitative, in several languages (one of which must be in Italian) and from several style periods.

As a rule, the vocalist may choose the first aria he/she will sing. If the admissions committee so wishes, they may request a second aria from the list. If a candidate does not have his/her own accompanist, a DNOA répétiteur may be requested.

The audition committee will consist of the artistic director (Alexander Oliver), the head of music coaching (Jan Slothouwer), the head of the drama department (Javier López Piñón) and a voice teacher from both conservatories. The general and/or artistic directors of both conservatories will also be present. Candidates will be informed of the results of the first round by telephone on the same day.

In the second round the candidate will participate in an individual vocal coaching with one of the DNOA coaches, a drama workshop and a physical theatre training workshop.

Within one week after the second round of auditions the candidate will receive the audition results in writing. Within two weeks after having received the acceptance letter, the candidate must indicate whether he/she wishes to make use of the place offered him/her.

EvaluationAt the end of each academic year, an examination will be held. The examination given after the first year will constitute an interim examination, while the one administered after the second year will be a final examination. The student?s development and results in each subject will be discussed semi-annually by the teachers and staff. Activities like participation in a production and/or other presentations will also be assessed. A satisfactory assessment grants the student admission to the interim or final examination. The student's technical and dramatic development and potential regarding the connection between his/her voice and acting ability will be assessed.

The final examinations constitute the points at which the student's activities are evaluated throughout the entire course. The examinations are open to the public. As a result of this presentation, the examination committee will decide whether the student may proceed to the next academic year or if he/she has passed the final examination. Students will receive a mark for the examination. The assessment criteria are: a natural and convincing combination of singing and acting, in which the elements of craftsmanship, musicality, artistry, presentation, stage presence and dramatic expression will be distinguished.

The requirements for the final examination are: the student has successfully completed all subjects and knows at least six complete roles for his/her voice type. In addition, the student has built up an audition repertoire from the most appropriate arias and recitatives for his/her voice type. The student has participated in two to four staged productions.

The final examination committee consists of the same members as the admissions committee, with the addition of one or more outside experts.

Structural OverviewThe annual programme is broken down into four periods, consisting of two units of lessons and two project periods. During the project units, entirely staged opera productions will be realized. The most important factor in determining the productions within the context of an educational programme which seeks to be as wide-ranging as possible is that students should work on repertoire from various style periods and in different languages.

The following methods of instruction are employed:

• Group lessons: ensemble singing, physical theatre training, acting, mime corporelle, language lessons, training for auditions (given by the artistic director and a number of casting directors and managers), workshops (given by guest teachers from various professional venues and institutions, including De Nederlandse Opera). These subjects train students in specific skills for opera performances, mastering and learning roles. Additionally, they offer students the chance to collaborate and interact with their peers.
• Individual lessons: voice, repertoire class, coaching. The individual lessons guide students in the development of their voices and vocal technique and related interpretive insights into the repertoire suited to the voice. Broadening of knowledge and mastery of repertoire is used to work on repertoire commonly dealt with in the professional music world. During his/her two years at the DNOA, the student will learn at least six complete roles.
• Opera projects: fully staged productions (each year, a large and small production are put on) and workshop presentations. This component relates to the synthesis of the lesson units and aims to bring students face to face with the Gesamtkunstwerk of opera. The student learns to develop his/her own artistic contribution within the frameworks indicated by the director and conductor. Two complete opera productions which are performed each year provide students with experience and practice in learning a complete role, whereby their artistic qualities are assessed before an audience.

The programme is supplemented by masterclasses, lectures, attending performance, etc. The DNOA regularly receives guest teachers who come to Amsterdam for opera productions (with De Nederlandse Opera). This provides students with valuable exposure to today's professional world of music.

Class activities will take place both in The Hague and in Amsterdam.

Over the last several years, guest teachers have included Dale Duesing, Anthony Legge, Patricia MacMahon, Paul McCreesh, Tina Ruta, Herman Verbeeck, Ann Murray, Graciela Araga, Richard Egarr, Marco Canepa, Muriel Carradini, Mark Tucker and Hanna Schwartz.

The Dutch National Opera Academy is a practically oriented, full-time study programme. As a rule, educational activities take place Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (individual voice lessons included). Lessons are given in Amsterdam and The Hague. Opera projects, workshops and masterclasses will likely fall outside the standard weekly schedule.

Upon acceptance to the programme, students agree to attend all classes and lessons making up the curriculum throughout the entire academic year in accordance with the Student Code/Statute, including participation in productions, which will be determined in consultation with the artistic direction and the student?s own voice teacher.

Given the multidisciplinary character of opera, collaboration with various departments of other institutions affiliated with the conservatories goes without saying. This also provides the student of opera with an extra dimension.