National Auditions for Opera Singers
Join the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal
Registration for the National Auditions for the 2027-2028 season is now open. Deadline for submitting your application is Monday, September 7, 2026, at midnight.
Candidates are invited to submit an application for pre-screening and a live audition:
- Thursday 24 September – Calgary (Calgary Opera)
- Friday 25 September – Vancouver (Vancouver Opera)
- Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 October – Montreal (Place des Arts)
- Monday 5 & Tuesday 6 October – Toronto (Canadian Opera Company)
- Thursday 8 October – Online auditions (zoom)*
*A limited number of online auditions will be available for candidates who live more than 300 km from the cities where the national auditions are held.
Selected finalists will be invited to Montreal to participate in the final rounds from November 6 to 10 and our Talent Gala on November 10, 2026. Finalists must be present for all five days in order to benefit from intensive training with the team to prepare for their auditions.
It is understood that the Talent Gala is the final stage of the auditions for admission to the Atelier lyrique in August 2027. As such, the National Auditions are intended for artists who wish to enter into a two-year full-time contract with the Opéra de Montréal beginning in August 2027.
During the Gala, the following prizes will be awarded:
IMPORTANT: Candidates who register for the National Auditions must be Canadian, permanent residents or in possession of an open work permit* valid for the period of residency (until June 2029) at the time of registration.
*An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada.
Deadline for submitting your application: Monday, September 7, 2026, at midnight.
The dates of the call-back and the Talent Gala will be from November 6 to 10, 2026. Finalists must attend all 5 days.
The Atelier lyrique Program
A young artists’ programme at the heart of the Opéra de Montréal, the Atelier lyrique is a springboard for development dedicated to artists who have completed their university training and whose aim is to launch a professional career in opera. By covering the broad spectrum of artistic and personal development in an innovative and bilingual setting, with world-class instructors and regular stage experience, the Atelier ensures that artists has access to their full potential.
Since its creation in 1984, l’Atelier has trained over 200 singers, pianists, stage directors, stage managers and administrators, many of whom pursue careers around the world and continue to make significant contributions as performers and cultural leaders to the landscapes of Quebec and Canada.
In the 2026-27 season, the Atelier lyrique cohort consists of 8 singers, 2 pianists, and one stage director.
Make sure you have all the requested assets for your registration
Registration details
Get all the essential info for your registration — download our guide now!
Questions?
Contact Marie Maous, Program Manager and National Auditions:
mmaous@operademontreal.com
National Auditions Partner
Mme Vanda Treiser, in memory of M. Benjamin Treiser