Welcome to the
Merola Opera Program
Est. 1957
Welcome to the online home of the Merola Opera Program! I invite you to explore the sixty-plus years of Merola’s history defining the future of opera. We are unique among opera programs in that our primary focus is on training and developing the finest young opera singers, coaches, and stage directors from around the world. Our professional level opera productions and concerts are all a part of the world-class training process. Whether you are an artist seeking to apply to the program or an opera lover looking to go behind-the-scenes and join our vibrant community of supporters, you will find a wealth of resources here.
Hope to see you at Merola!
Jean Kellogg
Executive Director of the Merola Opera Program
Merola by the numbers
Each summer, approximately 23 singers, 5 apprentice coaches and 1 apprentice stage director are selected from nearly one thousand international applicants to participate in the Merola Opera Program. During their 12 weeks at Merola, these talented young artists receive life-changing instruction from a faculty of opera masters and hone their talents in professional quality productions – all entirely free of charge.
1,000
International Applicants
650
Auditions each Year
29
Artists each Summer
63
Years of Opera Training
Latest News
What the Heart Desires
Watch the Trailer Now!
Merola Opera Program presents What the Heart Desires. Celebrating diversity in song, What the Heart Desires was co-curated by mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller (Merola ‘05) and tenor Nicholas Phan. It explores the many things our hearts desire and features compositions by women and people of color. The program includes selections about romantic desire, physical desire, and the longing for home, for rest, for peace, and for a better world. The recital was performed and filmed live on July 3, 2021 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall.
This performance is available to Merola members starting July 16, and will be released free to the public on July 30, 2021. What the Heart Desires is sponsored by Amazon.
#MeroliniMixer
"Pour me rapprocher de Marie” from Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment
Nicholas Huff, tenor (Merola ’19) and Gregory Berg bring us this melodic gem, “Pour me rapprocher de Marie” from Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment for our July 2021 #MeroliniMixer. Listen to their stunning and powerful performance of this breathtaking aria. The #MeroliniMixer was created by Merola alumni to produce and share performances as a thank you for the Merola Artists Emergency Fund which was established in hopes to help recent alumni recoup some of their losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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