Lyric Opera Auditions

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Here you will find current audition opportunities across the company.

Singers and instrumentalists wishing to receive audition information from Lyric Opera of Chicago or The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center may contact the appropriate administrators as follows:

Enrique Mazzola, Music Director announces the following vacancies: Principal Bass & Section Violin

Principal Bass auditions to be held October 11-14, 2025
Successful candidate to start in January or September 2026

In the 2025/26 season, the successful candidate may receive:

• 21-week contract (late September – April)
• Base rate ($66,248), 30% overscale, and 18% vacation pay to equal $101,600
• Benefits Package (11.99% Pension; Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Instrument
  Insurance)

Section Violin auditions to be held October 29 - November 3, 2025
Successful candidate to start in September 2026

Notwithstanding the contractual position of Section Violin, this winning candidate can expect to play second violin.

In the 2026/27 season, the successful candidate may receive:

• 22-week contract (late September – early May)
• Base rate ($71,484) and 18% vacation pay to equal $84,350
• Benefits Package (11.99% Pension; Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Instrument
  Insurance)

For further information, and to receive audition materials, please email: [email protected]

To audition, please send your resume and a $50.00 refundable deposit to*:

Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra Auditions
Principal Bass OR Section Violin
20 North Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

*Please note that audition times will be granted upon receipt of $50.00 deposit.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ONLY

Vacancies resulting from the selection of a current Lyric Opera Orchestra member for any position may be filled at this time by any other applicant who advances to the finals in these auditions.

Lyric Opera of Chicago – one of the world’s leading opera companies – announces a rare opportunity for singers to join its prestigious Regular Chorus positions, in all voice categories for singers who are prepared for professional careers. Auditions will be held in Chicago and in New York.  Singers of color are highly encouraged to audition. 

Auditions will be held by invitation in New York City January, 2026 and in Chicago March, 20206. Highly accomplished singers are encouraged to apply for this extraordinary, tenure-track career opportunity. Regular Chorus positions are: 

• Tenure track
• Health insurance provided through AGMA
• Guaranteed a 26-week minimum per season, with the possibility of additional weeks
• Starting salaries begin at $1,904.50 per week, increasing with seniority
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued annually
• Two weeks of vacation are paid out each calendar year
• Additional seniority bonuses after 10 years

Preliminary Auditions 
New York auditions will take place at Opera America (330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001)
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:00-4:00pm

Auditions are by invitation only:
For New York auditions, please ensure materials are provided no later than 5:00pm CT on Friday, January 9, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

Chicago auditions will take place at the Lyric Opera House (20 N Wacker Drive, Chicago) on the following dates: 

• Monday, March 23, 2026 3:00-6:00pm 
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 3:00-6:00pm
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026 7:00-9:00pm
• Friday, March 27, 2026 3:00-6:00pm
• Saturday, March 28, 2026 11:00am-2:00pm

Applicants must sing a preliminary audition to be considered for a callback audition. Please note that callback auditions are not always requested of singers in consideration for contracts.

Callback Auditions
Callback auditions will take place at the Lyric Opera House (20 N Wacker Drive, Chicago) on Saturday, March 28, 2026 3:00-6:00pm. 

Auditions are by invitation only
For Chicago auditions, please ensure materials are received no later than 5:00pm CT on Monday, March 16, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

For audition consideration, singers must submit:

• Current résumé
• Headshot
• Letter that states your first, second, and third preferences of audition dates
• Contact information for two references of recognized musical authority with whom you have worked. Please ensure your references are notified that Lyric may contact them.

Please email the above to: [email protected]

OR mail to:

Chorus Auditions Coordinator
Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N Wacker Drive, Suite 860
Chicago, IL 60606

Audition Requirements
Successful applicants must be prepared to present two memorized opera arias in different languages.

Auditionees must be United States citizens OR possess, at the time of the audition, legal permission to work in the United States of America during the rehearsal and performance period. 

Lyric Opera of Chicago employs a professional chorus under an AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) contract and pays competitive wages. You need not be a union member to audition.

Rehearsal and Performance Period
The 2026/27 performance season runs from October 10 through November 29, 2026 (with rehearsals beginning in September) and the weeks of January 11 through April 25, 2027. A full (tentative) schedule of rehearsals and performances will be provided prior to the commencement of rehearsals.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Lyric Opera of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. 

For more information
[email protected]
(312) 827-3548

 

Lyric Opera of Chicago's music staff consists of cover conductors, répétiteurs, and prompters. If you you like to be considered for a position on Lyric Opera's music staff, please email your résumé and references to [email protected]. If you are interested in cover conducting and have conducting reels available to you, please be sure to include them.

Alternate contact information is:
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Music Staff Auditions
20 N. Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

Some productions may require individuals with special talents to perform on stage, including:

• Ballet
• Children's Chorus
• Supernumeraries ("extras")
• Actors

Auditions for these roles are conducted on an "as needed" basis only; to find out about current/upcoming opportunities, please call the Audition Hotline at 312.827.3548. 

Lyric grants auditions for principal roles to professional opera singers on an invitation-only basis. The artist's management should email [email protected] with requests for an audition.

 

To obtain an information packet about becoming a supernumerary at Lyric Opera of Chicago, please send your information to Bill Walters, super captain, at [email protected].

For additional information, please call the supernumerary hotline at 312.827.3538.

There are no dance auditions currently scheduled.

There are no Lyric Unlimited auditions currently scheduled.

There are no musical theater auditions currently scheduled.

Applications for The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center 2026/27 Ensemble Singers and Pianists are now closed. For questions about the Ryan Opera Center's application and audition process, please contact Greer Arcomona at [email protected]

 

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Photo: Todd Rosenberg