The Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera are young singers and pianists/coaches on the verge of international careers. The program provides intensive study with renowned vocal and dramatic coaches and offers voice lessons, language classes, career guidance, and master classes with Washington National Opera staff and guest artists. The Young Artists also have the opportunity to perform and cover roles in WNO productions, and to create new roles in WNO’s new works program, the American Opera Initiative.

In addition to many performances on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Young Artists have performed at the White House, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, the United States Senate, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Mexican Cultural Institute, the Music Center at Strathmore, with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, and at numerous embassies.

Each season, the Young Artists sing a fully staged performance with orchestra in the Kennedy Center Opera House as part of the WNO season. Past productions have included La traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, La bohème, Alcina, and Carmen, conducted by such luminaries as Philippe Auguin, Evan Rogister, Renato Palumbo, Jane Glover, and Michael Christie. In the 2018-2019 season, the Young Artists performed a Concert of Comic Masterpieces on Friday, May 24, 2019, including the first act of Verdi’s Falstaff. The annual recital series has featured the Young Artists at the National Gallery, the Phillips Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Kreeger Museum. Two seasons ago, they performed a special production of extracts from Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Consul at the Supreme Court.

Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera graduates have gone on to successful careers including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, LA Opera, New York City Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Bayreuth Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Teatro Real in Madrid, Liceu Opera Barcelona, and Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

Audition Information

Washington National Opera's Cafritz Young Artists provides training designed to help bridge the gap between university/conservatory-level studies and a professional career in opera. Successful applicants should demonstrate major operatic potential and be eligible for employment in the US by the start date of the coming season (through possession of US citizenship, Green Card, or other appropriate work visa). There is no specific age limit to apply, and we welcome the unique contributions you can bring to WNO and the Kennedy Center in terms of race, ancestry, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, culture, social background, education, languages spoken, Veteran's status, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Compensation

Payment is provided: Stipend, reimbursement of monthly health insurance premium (up to a certain amount), one-time moving allowance, financial assistance with travel for competitions, lessons, and auditions. Singers will also have the opportunity to perform and cover roles in Washington National Opera mainstage productions, which are compensated according to AGMA stipulations in addition to regular stipend. Pianists will have the opportunity to work on a mainstage production each season as part of the WNO music staff.

For more information about the Cafritz Young Artists of WNO, the application process, or the audition requirements, please email [email protected].

Application Information

Applications for the Cafritz Young Artists are now closed.

Please check back in September 2024 for our 2025-2026 application.

Kennedy Center Education

Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Bank of America; Bender Foundation, Inc.; Carter and Melissa Cafritz Trust; Carnegie Corporation of New York; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Estée Lauder; Flocabulary; Harman Family Foundation; The Hearst Foundations; the Herb Alpert Foundation; the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The King-White Family Foundation and Dr. J. Douglas White; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; 

Music Theatre International; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; the National Endowment for the Arts; Newman’s Own Foundation; Nordstrom; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Prince Charitable Trusts; Soundtrap; The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; and Volkswagen Group of America. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.