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:

Lyric Opera of Chicago — one of the world’s leading opera companies — announces a rare audition opportunity for soprano singers to join its prestigious Regular Chorus, for the 2025/26 season. Auditions will be held by invitation in New York City this June. Highly accomplished sopranos, particularly First Sopranos, 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 beginning at $1,831.50 per week, increasing with seniority
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued annually
• Two weeks of vacation paid out each calendar year
• Additional seniority bonuses after 10 years

 

Audition Schedule

New York auditions will take place at Rose Studio (165 West 65th Street, New York, NY, 7thh floor of the Rose Building) on Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10:30 am – 6:00 pm.

Auditions are highly competitive and by invitation only.

Please ensure materials are received no later than 5:00 pm CDT on Monday, June 2, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

 

For audition consideration, singers must submit:

• Current résumé
• Headshot
• Contact information for two references of recognized musical authority (please notify your references that Lyric may contact them)

Please email the above to: [email protected]

 

Audition Requirements:

Successful applicants must prepare two opera arias that best demonstrate vocal ability. The arias must be in two contrasting languages and must be memorized. Singers may also be asked to sight-read. The ability to read and memorize music quickly and accurately is essential. Auditions will not exceed ten minutes; please plan your repertoire accordingly.

Lyric Opera of Chicago will furnish an accompanist; auditionees must provide a legible copy of each aria, in the correct key, for the accompanist.

Auditionees must be U.S. citizens or have legal permission to work in the United States during the rehearsal and performance periods.

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

 

Rehearsal and Performance Period:

The 2025/26 performance season runs from October 11 through November 23, 2025 (rehearsals begin in August), and January 5 through April 19, 2026. A full tentative rehearsal and performance schedule will be provided before rehearsals commence.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, parental status, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

 

For More Information:
[email protected]
Lyric Opera audition hotline: (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 currently no upcoming orchestra auditions scheduled.

If you are interested in being considered for Lyric Opera of Chicago's "substitute" musicians list, you may send your résumé at any time.

If you would like to be considered as a substitute musician, or would like more information regarding the open position(s) within the orchestra, please email [email protected] with inquiries.

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]

 

---

Photo: Todd Rosenberg