Opera (Diploma)

Laurier’s Opera Diploma is a two-term program for both singers and collaborative pianists interested in deepening their knowledge and skills in this complex art form. You’ll receive intensive training with leading stage directors, acting clinicians, and opera coaches, offering instruction in movement, acting, audition readiness, stagecraft, the art of coaching, and every element of the business of opera. The program provides specialized instruction in voice, collaborative piano, and stagecraft for both music theatre and opera. Embrace a highly interactive environment to learn every facet of creating opera and music theatre from the ground up.
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Program Details

Diploma Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on: 

  • Master the Foundations: Master interpreting and modifying piano/vocal scores, following conductors, and exploring orchestral colors. Gain exposure to coaching techniques, recitative, and potential pit performance. Prepare audition materials for further study or applications. 
  • Enhanced Your Singing Skills: Improve vocal technique, develop practical audition skills, and create effective publicity materials. Work with prominent stage directors and clinicians in movement, acting, stagecraft, publicity, and makeup. Advance your craft with courses like the Practice of Opera, Advanced Practical Study, and Studio Recital.
  • Faculty Mentorship: Work with Laurier's renowned faculty and receive personalized mentorship to develop essential performance and creative skills for future careers. 

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!): 

  • Immersive Performance Experiences: Participate in Opera Laurier's diverse program, featuring operatic and music theatre excerpts every fall and full-length operas every winter.
  • Learn from Canadian Performers: Collaborate closely with Canada’s top performers, creators, and educators. Experience Opera Laurier's themed operatic and music theatre excerpts each fall and a full-length opera every winter. Pianists are actively involved in rehearsals and performances when applicable. 
  • Personalized Development: Receive individualized mentorship from industry professionals, refining vocal or pianistic skills while learning the intricacies of stagecraft, movement, and makeup. 

Admissions

  • Format: full time
  • Duration: two terms
  • Start: September (fall term)
  • OUAC code: URI

Your Career Awaits

For more than 50 years, Laurier's diploma in Opera has enjoyed a fine reputation as a training ground for advanced pre-professional Opera and music theatre singers, directors and repetiteurs.

Our many alums who have gone on to achieve great success in music include:

  • Sarah Dufresne, recent winner of the 2022 Montreal International Competition and one of this year's CBC 30-under-30;
  • Midori Marsh, winner of the 2019 Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Competition;
  • Sandra Horst, Chorus Master of the Canadian Opera Company;
  • Erica Iris Huang;
  • Adam Luther;
  • Daniel Cabena; and
  • Jane Archibald, Juno Award winner, has sung with the likes of the Vienna State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, La Scala Milan and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email choosemusic@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all Music faculty and staff.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?