ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR SINGERS 2008    

ESTORIL MUSIC WEEKS 2008 / 45th ESTORIL INTERNATIONAL MASTER COURSES and OPERAPLUS are pleased to announce the launching of the application procedure for its 10^th International Summer School for Singers, which is specifically designed to address the needs of singers, aged between 20 and 32 years old, who aspire to a performing career in the field of opera and oratorio. The School will be held in the beautiful surroundings of Estoril, Portugal, from 21 July to 6 August. Posters, application forms (on-line at: www.estorilfestival.net) and other Information have been distributed to Conservatories of Music and other music organisation worldwide. Candidates are required to send in their applications by the closing date of 21 April 2008, new dead line.  

Following the audition procedure, which will include live auditions in Brussels, London, Dublin and Lisbon in April 2008 and a full assessment of postal applications by the Selection Panel, 25 candidates will be invited to take part. The 16-day course is residential and includes an intensive programme of:  

-          Individual Singing Lessons with the resident Vocal Consultant LOH Siew Tuan (21 July to 5 August)  

-          Individual Repertoire & language Coaching from the four resident full-time professional pianists,

accompanists and coaches  

-          3-day Master Class with Robert WHITE (23, 24 & 25 July)

-          3-day Lieder, Mélodie & Song Repertoire Master Class with Graham JOHNSON (27, 28 & 29 July)

-          3-day Opera, Oratorio and eventually Lieder Master Class with Ann MURRAY (1, 2 & 3 August)  

-          Opera Staging with Ronny LAUWERS assisted by Benoît De Leersnyder (21 July to 5 August) ensemble scenes from:

“I Capuleti e i Montecchi” – Bellini

“Roméo et  Juliette” - Gounod

“West Side Story” – Bernstein  

-          A series of evening Recitals (24, 25, 28, 29 July & 1 August)  

-          Final Concert in Estoril, on 5 August.  Programme of staged opera scenes  

-          Awards: 1) “Award for excellence” of a Recital in London; 2) “Estoril Festival Prize” of a Concert in Estoril and 3) the ”Vera Rozsa Award” of a full scholarship for the most promising young singer to attend the summer school in 2009. 

Further details about fees / conditions and the résumés of Professors and Music Staff are available on our website: www.estorilfestival.net. Please inform your Opera Faculty teaching staff, singing students, and any other individuals whom you consider might benefit from this interesting and invaluable educational and cultural experience.  

ESTORIL MUSIC WEEKS Galerias Estoril Rua de Lisboa, 5 – Lj. 12 2765 -240 Estoril Portugal Artistic Director Piñeiro NAGY EIMC Director Nuno Vieira de Almeida	OPERAPLUS 11 Willem Geetsstraat B-2800 Mechelen Artistic Director LOH Siew-Tuan Administrator Liam Ó Brádaigh