The first year of study focuses on the physical aspects of opera singing and offers tuition in drama and music as well as training in the memorising of parts, mainly in the original languages. This is followed by short training programs related to musical drama.

During the second and third year, training in musical drama focuses on stylistic aspects and the different genres. In addition, students perform at a number of small and large concerts accompanied by orchestra or piano.

Stage performance training also takes place at the Royal Danish Theatre and other opera stages where students appear in scheduled productions.

Separate courses are held throughout the three-year program in ballroom dancing, makeup, fencing, languages, and drama. Master classes and courses in interpretation will be held featuring international performers.

Teaching staff 

Head of Academy: Anne Margrethe Dahl

Assistant Head of Academy: Kim von Binzer

Individual vocal training:

Professor Kirsten Buhl Møller

Associate professor Susanna Eken

Opera singer and head of academy Anne Margrethe Dahl

Head of dramatic training:

Ebbe Knudsen

Additionally, training features teaching by a host of different drama teachers, stage directors, declamation coaches, conductors, physical trainers, language teachers and dramatists.

Musical Subjects

Individual vocal training (principal subject):
Individual vocal training is scheduled throughout the study program. Students are to acquire the level of proficiency within singing and musical drama required for the full professional performance of medium and major parts within the operatic repertoire.Repetition: Individual tuition throughout the course of study in the memorising of required standard repertoire. This training is supplemented with the study of rehearsal techniques aided by a répétiteur.

Declamation:
The declamation of libretto is a subject during the first year of study. Students with special needs in relation to declamation may receive additional tuition to supplement their vocal training. Such special tuition is granted by the management after the first year of study.

Language:
Identical, in principal, to the language teaching offered by the study program for singers at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. The language lessons are to support and facilitate the learning of the foreign-language opera repertoire and can be offered either as a course or as project-related consultancy according to requirement.

Ensemble singing/ recitative training/ piano training with conductor:
Basic study program subject offering tuition in the disciplines related to musical ensemble performance with special relevance to operatic performance. Small-group tuition.

Musical Dramatic Subjects

Drama: Group tuition throughout the first year of study. Basic acting techniques (e.g. improvisation, group rehearsal and recital of non-libretto text) are gradually integrated with the teaching of musical drama.

Musical drama:
Gradually replaces drama as the basic dramatic subject. Tuition is based on the stage performance of either excerpts from or full version of individual operas. Performance training is conducted as either individual or group training according to needs. Each project is generally concluded with a stage performance, which is basic to the assessment of the current level of development of individual students.

Musical interpretation and rehearsal technique training aided by a répétiteur:
Individual tuition throughout the course of study. Acts as supplementary training and offers training in the memorising of the standard operatic repertoire as well as audition training.

Physical Subjects

Warm-up, fitness, improvisation, and dance:
Group training. Continuous training throughout the course of study. Methods are draw from modern dance, ballroom dancing, fencing, and stunt performance. Training is offered in body awareness on stage. Supplementary courses are also offered within relaxation techniques, Alexander techniques, Pilates, etc, if authorised by the principle teacher.

The abovementioned subjects are basic to the study program and can be supplemented by individual courses and study tours.

Courses:
Courses in musical/ performance skills, e.g. master classes, miming classes, fencing, orchestra collaboration, makeup, general cultural education, etc.

Study Tours:
In general, one study tour is conducted annually to an opera house or educational institution abroad.

Download syllabus (pdf)

- Only in danish

Admission qualifications

An applicant is qualified if deemed by the committee to have demonstrated a potential in achieving the highest standards of the art of opera within the timeframe of the three-year study program, or in special cases a four-year program.

General musical skills are required on par with the requirements of a Masters degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Applicants are required to be able to follow tuition given in Danish.

Total admission

A total of 6 students are admitted annually.

Application and admission procedure

A special application forms is required. Fully completed applications must have been registered with the Royal Danish Academy of Music by 1 February at noon. A deposit of DKK 1000 must be paid with the application.

Applicants will receive instructions prior to examination as to where and when the examination will take place in addition to information on the nature and procedure of the examination.

Applicants will receive notice of their nomination shortly after their completed tests. Final notification of admission to the Opera Academy is subject to the approval by the Opera Academy Council.

Complaints procedure

Complaints over the admission examination are subject to the procedures stipulated by Executive Order No 328 of 22 May 1995, issued by the Danish Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Assessment

Applicants will be judged on the basis of an assessment of their potential to achieve the highest standards of the art of opera.

Guidelines for the admission examination are issued by the management of the Opera Academy.

Grades are given on the basis of the national grading system issued by the Danish Ministry of Education.

Admission is limited to the number of student places offered by the Opera Academy and may also be subject to the Academy’s priority of achieving an overall balance between the different types of singing voices.

Examination requirements

Two opera arias and a major opera recitative of which at least one must be performed in Danish. The presentation should not last more than 12 minutes.

The board of examiners reserves the right to shorten the time allocated to individual applicants or presentations and to require additional testing, which may include the following presentations:

The performance of one Danish song or ballad of the applicant’s own choice with piano accompaniment, or an unaccompanied song (Non-Danish nationals may choose to sing in their mother tongue) Duration: max 3 minutes.

One monologue (or similar presentation) from a play or a piece of prose or a poem of own choice – in Danish (or the mother tongue of the applicant). Duration: max 3 minutes.

An improvisation conducted with an appointed drama teacher with whom the session is planned and executed immediately.

All presentations must be made from memory.

Applicant may in special circumstances be admitted to the Opera Academy on the basis of their vocal skills if they are considered to be on par with those of Master students at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, even if the applicant’s general musical standing is less well developed.

In such circumstances applicants are required to follow a special program developed by the management of the Opera Academy.

Applicants to the Opera Academy, who wish to apply for entry to the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a secondary choice, must submit their application to the Royal Danish Academy of Music by 1 December at noon.

Postal address: 

The Opera Academy
Postbox 2185
1017 København K
e-mail: oakontor@kglteater.dk

Head of Academy:
Anne Margrethe Dahl
+45 33 69 37 81
e-mail amda@kglteater.dk

Assistant Head of Academy:
Kim von Binzer
+45 33 69 37 90
e-mail: kvbi@kglteater.dk

Administrator:
Susanne Rolin
+45 33 69 37 91
e-mail: suro@kglteater.dk

Assistent:
Cecilie Engen Winton 
33 69 37 93/92 
e-mail: cewi@kglteater.dk