A doctoral Composer-in-Residence position and new MA in Opera Making will be offered at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama through a new collaboration with the Royal Opera House.
The new qualifications are designed to help develop opera music, support emerging opera-makers and foster new creative talent.
The Composer-in-Residence studentship, which begins in September 2013, will offer one composer every three years the opportunity to research and write a major work for Covent Garden's Linbury Studio Theatre. The position, which offers a composer a secure fully funded period to research and develop a new work, will be supervised by Guildhall School’s Head of Composition Dr Julian Philips, who was Composer-in-Residence at Glyndebourne, and Associate Director of The Royal Opera John Fulljames. Applications for the position close on 13 May. Further details about how to apply will be released shortly.
The School also plans to introduce a new Masters Programme in 2014, subject to validation by City University London, that will focus exclusively on how opera is created, developed and performed. The programme, which will commence in September 2014 and focus on the completion of one chamber operatic work, will offer young composers their first immersive experience in the creation of contemporary opera.
Of the new work to be created through the partnership, The Royal Opera's Director of Opera Kasper Holten said:
'It is important that we take risks when we try to create the opera of tomorrow. But it is equally important that we discuss, analyse and continue to understand better how the magic of opera works and how we can offer the best possible tools to the composers, librettists, directors and other opera makers of the future.'
The new relationship officially begins on 29 April 2013, and will be marked by a conference about the role of the writer in opera. ResearchWorks, which will be held at the Barbican's Pit Theatre, will include talks by Kasper Holten, Dr Julian Philips, Director of RADA Edward Kemp and poet/librettist Lavinia Greenlaw.
For further details about the Composer-in-Residence position, please contact: doctorate@gsmd.ac.uk
