Individualized study.
Direct performing experience.
The next generation of opera talent.
It is profoundly inspiring to witness the exceptional caliber of singers we attract for our Resident Artist Program, showcasing not only remarkable vocal skill but also sheer artistry. Our top priority is nurturing the next generation of singers by providing a safe space for them to develop and flourish in their careers.”
Nathalie Doucet
Head of Music and Resident Artist Program Director, Detroit Opera
The Resident Artist Program is led by renowned opera coach and pianist Nathalie Doucet, Detroit Opera’s Head of Music. The program offers individualized study to cater to the unique needs of each artist and aligns with the country’s top training programs. Detroit Opera serves as a nurturing home for these rising stars, supporting and helping them achieve their full potential in the highly competitive opera industry. The program builds on the strong foundations of the Studio Artist program founded by the late Dr. David DiChiera, the company’s founder, while embodying the forward-looking leadership of Gary L. Wasserman Artistic Director Yuval Sharon and President and CEO Patty Isacson Sabee. The program was reshaped in 2022 by Detroit Opera’s former Associate Artistic Director, Christine Goerke, to keep pace with the spirit of innovation, outreach, and community-building that has characterized Detroit Opera’s programming and administration since Yuval Sharon’s arrival in 2020.
Resident Artists commit to an intensive program while living in Detroit from September through May, training directly with Doucet and other members of the Detroit Opera community in specially crafted and individualized curricula of voice, movement, language, and career guidance. In addition to their hands-on training, Resident Artists have opportunities to perform in Detroit Opera mainstage productions, giving them access to work with guest artists, directors, and conductors. Guest artists and industry professionals who have worked with Detroit Opera Resident Artists since 2022 include Timothy Cheek, Valerio Galli, Susan Graham, Wendy Bryn Harmer, Ricardo Herrera, Dr. Paul Kwak, Don Marrazzo, Ana María Martinez, Francesco Milito, Alfred Walker, Janet Williams, and Detroit Opera’s artistic leadership, Yuval Sharon and Roberto Kalb.
In keeping with Detroit Opera’s longstanding focus on making opera accessible to the surrounding community, Resident Artists forge direct ties to Detroit through recitals, concerts, and other collaborations with local schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and institutions. Resident Artists perform regularly during the season for patients at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital and in public concerts throughout Detroit and the state of Michigan. All Resident Artists begin on a one-year contract, and selected artists are invited to participate in a second year.
For more information about the Resident Artist Program, please contact Jessie Neilson at jneilson@detroitopera.org. To apply to the Resident Artist Program, visit the Auditions and Employment page.
