https://operademontreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/S1819_Tous-en-choeur_credit_Francois-Goupil_48-scaled.jpg

Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal

All about the National Auditions :

Build your career potential in an innovative, bilingual environment. Qualify for a residency with the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

A leading artists’ residency for Canadian opera singers, pianists, and stage directors, operating within the Opéra de Montréal that serves as a springboard to a professional career.

 

 

 

The Program's Pillars - 360° training

Over two years, the residents train with seasoned specialists in stagecraft, vocal technique, languages, creation, performance psychology, while gaining vital on-the-job experience through roles in Opéra de Montréal's productions.

Artistic Development

Musical coaching; Vocal technique lessons; Stage acting; Movement; Alexander Technique.

Language Training

Immersion in a bilingual work environment; Opera diction classes; Intensive French language group program;Individual courses with Language Research Development Group (LRDG)

Stage Experience

Roles or understudies in Opéra de Montréal productions (2025-26 Don Giovanni, Jenůfa, Clown(s), Carmen and others); Concerts with piano and/or orchestra; Masterclasses with guest masters; Baroque music clinic

Personal Development

Consults in performance psychology: artistic resilience, self-awareness, anxiety management and time optimization; Communication workshops; ORL consults

Career Development

A fund to support career development, the Programme d'Insertion en Carrière de l'Opéra de Montréal (PIC); Personalized professional budgeting; Regular professional demo recordings; Roundtables, auditions and discussions with agents and career professionals; Workshops on taxation and grant writing; Workshops on taxation for self-employed individuals.

Creation

Workshops on the creation and premieres of new works; Collaborative work with composers, librettists and stage directors; Showcasing new repertoire in performance.

Community Outreach

Collaboration with the Outreach department to involve communities and venues outside of the traditional concert hall; Participation as an opera ambassador in Opéra de Montréal philanthropic activities.

Artists

Graduates

Since 1984, the Atelier has helped launch more than 200 artists-performers, mediators, and arts leaders - many of whom continue to shine on major international stages, including Sarah Dufresne, Julie Boulianne, Étienne Dupuis, and the current director of the Atelier lyrique, Jennifer Szeto.

Team

Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal

Director

Jennifer Szeto

Jennifer Szeto carves a dynamic path as a pianist, administrator, and pedagogue. Praised for “an immense sweetness and precision which seemed to be flawless” (L’Opéra) and “amazing versatility” (Opera Ramblings), she is a distinguished graduate of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellowship, Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, and Merola Opera Program.

The Atelier lyrique Directorship is generously sponsored by Vanda Treiser.

Martin Dubé

Head Coach

Marie Maous

Program Manager

Geneviève Lessard

Associate producer

Vanessa Croome

Artistic Assistant

François Racine

Stagecraft Professor 25-26

Guest Instructors

Stage Directors

François Racine ,

Tom Diamond,

Stephen Lawless,

David Lefkowich

Pianist Coach

Martin Dubé, Head coach,

Giovanni Reggioli,

Jerome de los Santos,

Hank Knox (Early music)

Technique vocal

Laura Brooks Rice (Head consultant) ,

Lena Hellström-Färnlöf

Diction

Anja Burmeister (German),

Miloš Repický (Czech),

Nicolò Sbuelz (Italian)

Conductor

Henry Kennedy,

Simon Rivard,

Naomi Woo

Performance psychology

Sieger Roorda

French Language Training

Monique Gosselin,

LRDG (Language Research Development Group),

Diane Miljours

Movement and Alexander Technique

Malcom Balk,

Karma Camp,

Mistaya Hemingway

ENT specialist

Dre Françoise P. Chagnon, Vocalex

National Auditions for the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal