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:

Principal Bass Auditions to be held April 13 – 16, 2026
Successful candidate to start in September 2026

THE POSITION

Principal Bass

THE CONTRACT

In the 2026/2027 season, players will receive:

• 22-week contract (late September – late April)
• Base rate of $3,249.31 per week(total base pay of $71,484.82)
• Additional 30% Principal overscale pay (additional $21,445.45)
• Additional 18% vacation pay (additional $16,727.45)
• 11.99% pension
• Sick and personal time
• Year-round health and instrument insurance (including dental and vision)
• Group term life insurance in the amount of $50,000
• Optional pre-taxed deductions for flexible spending, dependent care, and 403(b) retirement savings
• Additional paid performance opportunities through various arms of the company (Lyric Unlimited, Musical Theater Initiative, etc.)

THE AUDITION

Preliminary Round
Monday, April 13, 2026
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 

Semifinal and Final Round
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026 

^{Note: While the dates reserved for semi-finals and finals will not change, we may not use both days. The final schedule will depend on the number of auditionees advancing from the preliminary round.}

A candidate who does not initially advance to the semifinal or final round of auditions may be invited to do so at the conclusion of the preliminary and/or semi-final rounds. This candidate will be notified promptly of their invitation to advance.

Vacancies resulting from the selection of a current Orchestra member for a principal or assistant principal position may be filled at that time by any other player who auditioned in the same final audition.

AUDITION REPERTOIRE

To request the Principal Bass audition repertoire, please email the auditions coordinator at [email protected].

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Please send a cover letter, resume, and deposit check for $50.00 to:

Lyric Opera of Chicago
Attn: Orchestra Personnel Manager
Principal Bass Audition
20 North Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

Your cover letter should include your first and second choice for your audition date. Times will be assigned on a first- come, first- served basis.

Alternatively, you may submit your cover letter and résumé electronically by replying to this email. Please note that audition times will only be confirmed upon receipt of all requested materials, including your $50.00 deposit. Submission of your résumé alone will not guarantee an audition time.

THE DEADLINES
Submission of materials: Postmarked by Monday, March 30, 2026

Submissions received after this date will not be accepted for planning purposes.

Cancellations: Except in emergencies, cancellations must be made at least five business days prior to your audition date to recoup your deposit.

Lyric Opera of Chicago – one of the world’s leading opera companies – announces a rare opportunity for singers to join its prestigious Regular, Core Supplementary, and Supplementary Chorus positions, in all voice categories for singers who are prepared for professional careers.

General Director, President & CEO: John Mangum

Auditions will be held by invitation in Chicago in March, 20206. Lyric Opera of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive casting and encourages all highly accomplished singers to audition. 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 $1,904.50 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

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.

Applications for The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center 2027/28 Ensemble Singers are now open. 

The full-time contract dates are May 17, 2027, through April 1, 2028 (subject to change), with an option to renew for a second year. 

Applications are free and must be submitted via YAP Tracker.

For questions, please contact Logan Skirm via email at [email protected].

APPLY NOW FOR 2027/28 SINGERS 

New York Singer Auditions
Application deadline: March 1, 2026
Audition dates: April 6-7, 2026

Chicago Singer Auditions #1
Application deadline: March 29, 2026
Audition dates: May 8-9, 2026

Chicago Singer Auditions #2
Application deadline: May 31, 2026
Audition dates: July 10-11, 2026

^{Please note, applications for all 2026/27 Ensemble positions are now closed.} 

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

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 request an information packet about becoming a supernumerary at Lyric Opera of Chicago, please email Tommy Novak, super captain, at [email protected].

 

There are no dance auditions currently scheduled.

There are no Lyric Unlimited auditions currently scheduled.

There are no musical theater auditions currently scheduled.

Photo: Todd Rosenberg