Opera Theatre of St. Louis Gerdine Young Artist Program

Opera Theatre’s celebrated young artist programs offer two unique opportunities for singers: The Gerdine Young Artist Program and The Richard Gaddes Festival Artist Program, which nurture the next generation of rising opera talent through invaluable professional experience. Made possible in part by the Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation, these two programs span nine weeks during the festival season. During this time, artists receive extensive vocal coaching, participate in master classes led by renowned opera artists, appear in community events and concerts, and — most importantly — sing in both the ensemble and featured supporting roles.

Each year, as many as 1,200 singers apply to Opera Theatre’s young artist programs. Many OTSL alumni go on to perform on the world’s most renowned stages, from the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden to the Metropolitan Opera, and include names such as Jamie Barton, Lawrence Brownlee, Christine Goerke, Evan Leroy Johnson, Erin Morley, Paula Murrihy, Matthew Polenzani, Morris Robinson, Michael Spyres, Russell Thomas, Corinne Winters, and many more.

In 2021, Artistic Director of Young Artist Programs Patricia Racette launched an expansion to these acclaimed programs, providing virtual learning opportunities with highly acclaimed singers, industry leaders, and coaches five months before artists arrive in St. Louis for the festival season.

This unique, first-of-its kind expansion involves not only vocal coaching, but seminars on personal brand, career management, dance and movement, repertoire, diction, and auditioning. Through this broad array of offerings, OTSL hopes to even the playing field and provide a more equitable, engaging learning experience for its young artists.