Principal Roles - Applications/Auditions

Please consider applying to be a Principal singer role in OSE's 2026 production of ​La Bohème

Marcio da Silva

Applications are now open

Applications, with potential auditions, are hereby announced for Opera South East's production of Giacomo Puccini's  La Bohème for production performances on 14th and 15th  April 2026.  The chorus for this production, as for all OSE productions, will be sung in English; however principal roles will be sung in Italian (with surtitles for  audience benefit).

Director / Conductor: Marcio da Silva

The Opera South East Academy

In 2026, in partnership with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra, OSE will organise an opera academy for singers and conductors, with two fully staged performances of Puccini's La Boheme.

The academy will take place from 7th to 16th April 2026 in St Leonards - Hastings UK. The course will be led by HPO Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Marcio da Silva, who is an experienced international choral and orchestral conductor, opera director and vocal coach.

This exciting opportunity will involve eight intensive days of preparation culminating in a fully staged production of the opera, accompanied by a 18-piece professional orchestra. The chorus will be performed by members of Opera South East. The production will be a revival of Marcio da Silva's 2022 production.

Rehearsals and performances will take place at Christ Church, Silchester Rd, Saint Leonards-on-sea TN37 6GL.

Audition format for Principal Roles

All roles will be cast through application selection and perhaps by audition for some roles.  People interested in joining our chorus members may simply submit your details on the chorus application form at any time and join our chorus rehearsals starting Sunday 26th October 2025, but may join slightly later, depending on singing confidence perhaps.

To apply for auditions, please indicate your interest on the form below and our chairman, John Rycroft and conductor/director Marcio da Silva , will be informed immediately on submission of this form

Fees payable for Principal Roles

Each singer will perform in at least one of the two fully staged performances. Roles will be sung in Italian. Available roles: Mimi (Soprano), Rodolfo (Tenor), Marcello (Baritone), Musetta (Soprano), Schaunard (Baritone), Colline (Bass), Benoit/Alcindoro (Bass/Baritone).
Fees for singers are £1,500.
​Fee does not include accommodation.

Conductor roles

The selected student conductors will be assigned TWO acts of the four acts of the opera on application. Each conductor will have at least a full dress rehearsal plus 2 hours of rehearsal with the orchestra. 
The fee for a conductor is £1,800.

or Join our chorus

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Watch above this line once you hit [submit] to an audition application for any error messages or a confirmation!
If the form disappears then there should be a Thank you for applying message.

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Our last few productions pre-covid were just great!  See the NODA write-ups (National Operatic and Dramatic Association).  In July 2015, OSE received a regional award in the NODA South-East Awards for Excellence 2014 - for Musical Excellence in OSE's production of Carmen, and in 2019 we were awarded the 2018 NODA South-East Region award for Best Opera

About La Boheme​, OSE and our audition format

Please see the notes below before submitting your audition application...

Notes on Principal audition applications:

• Principal roles rehearsals are focussed from 7th-15th April 2026.  
• For info, Chorus music rehearsals start from Sunday 26 October 2025  starting production rehearsals from Sunday 1st February 2026. Principals are welcome to join as they like.
• Please provide with your application any holidays or other commitment dates on the application form if you will not be available for a rehearsal on any 7th-16th April 2026 so we can structure rehearsals around principals' availability.  
• =Castings for principal roles will not be notified to the rest of the company until all the roles have been offered and accepted

• Audition applications received by xxxxx 2025 will be considered for audition appointment by The Chairman (John Rycroft) on submission of this form.  There is no guarantee of later applications being accommodated even if you have potential for selection. Applicants will be contacted via email or phone with confirmation of your audition time if selected, and later with the results of your audition
  Please raise any problems with this auditions website form to Secretary (Greg Solomon).

Notes on the general OSE rehearsal schedule:

• Sundays: Chorus-only music rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 26th October 2025 under our Music Director, Marcio da Silva.  These Music rehearsals generally run from 2:30pm-4:30pm
• From 1st February,  the main production rehearsals begin. Rehearsals are mostly located at St John's Church, also in St Leonards-on-Sea.

• There may be additional daytime Principal rehearsals at  other times and locations as mutually agreed 
• Minor principal roles where singers are doubling chorus will need to attend chorus rehearsals
• There may also be additional evening Chorus rehearsals in the run-up to the production, where the focus will be entirely on music.  Principals are welcome but not expected​

Provisional Schedule

See schedule of rehearsal dates on the website: Rehearsal dates

Audition Location

St John's Church Hall, Brittany Road,  TN38 0RD

Primary Rehearsal Location

Primary rehearsal location:
    St John's Church Hall, Brittany Road,  TN38 0RD

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