As Tony Award winning theater and opera director Nicholas Hytner explained in a Playbill interview, “The problem for opera is that its conventions haven’t been refreshed by a constantly evolving repertoire.” But how can we infuse the repertoire with new works of high quality if there is not a concerted effort to mentor the artists who will be writing these new works? This is where ALT is truly different than every other opera company.
Until ALT started the Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), there was not a single full-time training program for opera composers and librettists at any opera company in the United States. Almost every opera company in the country has a Young Artist Program to mentor emerging singers, and over the past 25 years, these programs have proved immensely successful at improving both the artistic level and the career success of American singers around the globe. Imagine what could happen if the same sort of opportunities were available for operatic writers. ALT is doing more than imagining this – we are making it happen. The CLDP has been designed to address the absence of appropriate mentorship for our writers.
The CLDP is a tuition free initiative, open to artists selected through a competitive application process. The program includes a core curriculum of classroom training and hands-on workshops with some of the country’s leading working artists.In addition to ongoing classes and workshops, composers and librettists in the program have the opportunity to take part in residency observerships at New York City Opera. Through this partnership, we are able to provide artists the opportunity to explore the process of mounting fully staged operatic productions. ALT also provides opportunities for Resident Artists to meet opera company leaders from around the country so that they can showcase their work, and expand their professional network. Additional networking and membership resources are provided through OPERA America, the national service organization for Opera in the United States, in which ALT is a very active member.
It is our goal that, upon completion of the program, artists will have addressed crucial voids in their training while creating a draft of a new work to be further developed for staged reading by ALT, with the possibility of subsequent professional production by ALT and/or other companies.
PROGRAM FACULTY AND MENTORSHIP STAFF
ALT’s Composer Librettist Development Program artistic mentorship team includes some of America’s foremost artists, including composer/librettist including composer/librettist Mark Adamo, conductor Lucy Arner, composer Daniel Catán, composer Anthony Davis, dramaturg Cori Ellison, librettist William Hoffman, librettist Michael Korie, and stage director Rhoda Levine. In 2010-11, ALT looks forward to welcoming additional guest artist mentors. Producing Artistic Director Lawrence Edelson oversees the administration of the program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please note, the application deadline for the 2010-2011 CLDP was June 1st. A new call for submissions will be made in the spring of 2011.
Applications are welcome from any emerging composer or librettist who is a U.S. Citizen or legal resident. Artists may apply individually to the program or as a member of a writing team.
ALT defines an emerging opera Composer or Librettist as someone who has acquired significant skills as a composer and/or librettist (or playwright) through academic study, practice, and professional experience; who demonstrates a unique and important musical and/or theatrical perspective that could benefit from intense mentorship as part of the CLDP; and who has not yet had a work commissioned or performed by a professional opera company in the United States. Their work in other genres may have been performed professionally, as ALT’s definition of emerging applies specifically to an artist’s development as a writer for the opera stage. Students of degree granting institutions are not eligible for consideration. There are no age restrictions for participation.
The CLDP runs from September to May annually in New York City. Residence in the New York metropolitan area is required for participation.