Buxton International Festival is really proud of our Festival Chorus. We select the brightest and best emerging talent from across the country. The chorus are the backbone of our opera productions and the singers we engage demonstrate exceptional vocal talent, dedication and unique creative flair.
Festival Chorus
The number of choristers we cast varies each year, depending on the vocal requirements of the operas we are producing. We usually produce five operas each year and our chorus is usually made up of 16 singers, but this changes each year. The opportunity is quite a special one, in that it’s a chance for emerging singers to network and grow alongside high profile artists and creative directors.
How it works
Singers invited to join the Festival Chorus perform in our main scale show(s). Festival Chorus singers are sometimes cast as smaller roles and even principal roles in our studio-scale productions; they are given cover roles. Rehearsals take place in London, before the team descend on Buxton itself for tech week and then the festival itself, which lasts for two weeks in July. There are wider opportunities for choristers to perform in events such as Song at Six, the Festival Mass, Opera in the Cavern. Singers receive one-to-one coaching sessions with our Artistic Director Adrian Kelly, plus informal introductions and support throughout the festival period as appropriate.
How to apply
Joining our Festival Chorus is highly competitive recruitment process. We cast by auditioning, usually in London in October. Please don’t send us CVs speculatively, as we won’t be able to process them.
If you are interested in auditioning, please join our mailing list to hear news about when we are casting. We regret that we are unable to offer feedback on unsuccessful applications, as we are a small team.
BIF has seen me right through since I was a recent graduate. There have been to many great things – coaching, concerts, talks about career progression – it’s just a fantastic experience
Joseph Doody