RBO Youth Opera Programmes
Applications for the RBO Youth Opera Programmes are closed.
About
The Royal Ballet and Opera Youth Opera Programme introduces young people aged 8–13 to vocal training and the world of opera in a welcoming, supportive and inspiring environment. Our programmes nurture singing skills, creativity and confidence through training and performance opportunities.
Rooted in inclusion and access, we actively welcome young people from all backgrounds and work to reflect the diversity of our communities. For some, this is the start of a pathway into further training. For others, it is about building confidence, friendships and the joy of making music together. For all our young singers, it is a place to grow and find their voices.
RBO Youth Opera Programme is divided into two strands:
RBO Young Voices (Ages 8-9)
RBO Young Voices is a singing training programme which develops participants’ musical understanding and vocal skills, and offers performance opportunities in showcases at the Royal Opera House. This programme serves as a springboard for those who wish to continue on their singing journey - no previous experience is needed, just enthusiasm and curiosity.
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RBO Youth Opera Company (Ages 9-13)
The Youth Opera Company offers participants all-round training in the performing arts, covering vocal technique, language coaching, stage craft, musical literacy and creative skills. Participants on the programme have the opportunity to audition for the Children’s Chorus who perform in productions on the Royal Opera House Main Stage, as well as creating and performing their own new operas.
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Apply
Applications are currently closed for places in the RBO Youth Opera Programmes. If you would like to be notified when applications reopen in Spring 2027, please join our mailing list.
Recent work
The Wish Thief (July 2025)
The Wish Thief was commissioned by the RBO Youth Opera Company as part of their ‘Making Opera for Younger Audiences’ project.
Written by Jonathan Ainscough and composed by Leighton Jones, the Youth Opera Company shaped the making of the piece, having selected it as a concept they were interested in developing into a staged opera in the Linbury Theatre.
The Sapling
The Sapling was a brand new opera commissioned by the Royal Opera House for the RBO Youth Opera Company, written by Jonathan Ainscough and composed by Jonathan Briggin in collaboration with the YOC.
Performed in the Linbury Theatre in July 2023, The Sapling tells its story through the words and voices of the Youth Opera Company, supported by professional singers and musicians.
Imagine a world where all living things – humans, animals, trees alike – dwell together in perfect harmony, until a mighty storm changes everything; imagine a world in the shape of a monstrous Tower, where those at the top control the lives and voices of those beneath; imagine a world at the very end of the universe, where the artefacts of the past offer a glimpse of the future… The Sapling spans centuries and generations, crossing time and space to explore the consequences of greed, the oppression of silence and the fragile nature of hope.
The Youth Opera Company is supported by Yvonne and Bjarne Rieber