Applications must be received on or before Friday, July 31, 2026.
Director: Monday, June 7th - Saturday, August 14th, 2027
La Cenerentola by Rossini (fully staged production with orchestra) - sung in Italian.
Scenes or Chamber Opera, TBC (staged program with orchestra) - Repertoire will be chosen to showcase participating artists.
Song Recital (vocal/piano concert) Repertoire chosen to showcase participating singers and pianists.
The Merola Grand Finale (semi-staged gala with full orchestra) - concert featuring all Merola singers on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House
*Repertoire subject to change.
The Merola Opera Program, under the artistic direction of the San Francisco Opera Center: Carrie-Ann Matheson, Artistic Director and Markus Beam, General Manager offers performance, training, and career development opportunities for young professional singers, coach/pianists, and stage directors.
2027 Applications must be received on or before Friday, July 31st, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time.
In addition to assisting stage directors on the summer opera and Scenes/Chamber Opera, the Merola Apprentice Director will direct the Merola Grand Finale, a semi-staged, formal gala concert on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House and may have the opportunity to assist with staging elements of the recital and scenes program.
All Merola participants receive instruction in acting and stage deportment, movement, financial planning/fiscal responsibility, mental health/wellness, leadership coaching, physical health/well-being, and public relations/branding from leading professionals in the opera field. The Apprentice Director will also have 1:1 meetings with working directors, artistic administrators, and designers throughout the summer, and will participate in the Industry Panel Auditions, making a brief presentation a panel of industry professionals.
For further information, please visit: https://merola.org.
Photo Credit: Kristen Loken
(Resident Artists of San Francisco Opera)
Each year singers and pianists are chosen from the Merola Opera Program to join the prestigious Adler Fellowship Program. The Adler program gives approximately 10 young artists a year a performance-oriented experience, providing individualized, holistic and advanced training. Adler Fellows are engaged for roles in San Francisco Opera’s season, as well as performing in Opera Center programs and activities. The Adler Fellowship is a renewable yearlong residency and is a salaried position with full benefits.
San Francisco Opera Center may engage Merola singers and pianist for a debut recital to take place in the winter or spring of 2028 in San Francisco. These recitals have been endowed in perpetuity by the generosity of celebrated Bay Area singer, scholar, and teacher James Schwabacher.
No application fee is required.
There is no age limit for prospective applicants.
Please Note: All application materials must be submitted by the application deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Applicants granted an interview will take part in one 30-minute Zoom interview, which will be scheduled in late October/early November 2026.
Merola Stage Director applicants should be prepared to discuss, in detail, concepts for productions of operas they wish to direct. Please be ready to discuss general philosophy toward production. Applicant is asked to include a brief statement in the application describing their interest and background in becoming a young artist stage director in the Merola Opera Program. Applicants should be prepared to screen share an up-to-date portfolio for discussion at the interview.
Please note: Merola Opera Program does NOT permit interview swapping. If you are unable to attend your assigned interview time, please contact auditions@merola.org for assistance.
-A weekly stipend is provided.
-The Merola Opera Program provides a weekly stipend, round-trip transportation from place of residence to San Francisco, and shared-accommodation housing.
-The Merola Opera Program only provides housing to participants and does not provide housing to spouse/partner, children, other relatives, or pets.
-For five years after leaving Merola, alumni may be eligible, with Merola's approval, to receive up to a total of $12,000 in career grants, with a maximum of $6,000 in any single year.
601 Van Ness Avenue - Suite S San Francisco, CA
Contact Information
Merola Opera Program National Auditions
Email: auditions@merola.org
