JuLY & AUGUST 2025
in TULSA, OKLAHOMA

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• $25 fee (applied to tuition)

• Online application and resume/headshot submission

• 3-5 opera or oratorio arias, art songs, or musical theatre songs submitted by video (YouTube link)

• Live auditions will be heard in Tulsa.

• Video auditions and auditions via the NATS Summer Program Auditions are also available.

Cost

• TUITION: $2500

• HOUSING: Not provided. Air BnB-type accommodations are reccomended; we’ll help you find roommates if you wish.

• APPLICATION FEE: $25 (applied to tuition if accepted; refunded if not accepted).

  FOOD: There are many off-campus restaurants and grocery stores within walking or driving distance. We will provide a small fridge and microwave on campus.

We offer more.

• Acts of Passion: An Evening of Verdi: We start the season as a team, with our gala Opera in Concert. The whole company participates in this special fundraiser. Faculty and students take leading and comprimario roles; and everyone joins together to sing chorus.

• Goldie B. Locks & the Three Singing Bears: Touring Children’s Opera: two dedicated casts, minimum 3 performances per cast. In English with piano.

• The Aria Extravaganza Concert: An opportunity to strut your stuff with your favorite “party pieces” and ensembles. Single cast with piano, one performance.

• The Magic Flute: Single cast with covers, two performances. Sung in German, with English dialogue, with piano.

• The Crucible: Single cast with covers, two performances. Sung in English , with piano.

• Additional concerts: As time allows, we schedule a variety of concerts in various venues around Tulsa.

For Your Craft:

• 1:1 weekly voice lessons + dramatic and musical coachings

• Diction, vocal health, regional careers, collaboration, audition techniques, and much more. See our Curriculum page for a full listing of proposed classes.

• Acting, production

• Masterclasses

For Your Career:

• 1:1 career consultations and career classes with Cindy Sadler

• Audition Makeover Masterclass

• Professional headshot photography and/or audition videos

• Classes in a wide variety of topics including side hustles, academia, and arts administration careers.

• The opportunity to explore the inner workings of a real, professional opera company and learn firsthand what artistic directors look for when they cast, where to find the answers you need, what each staff member does, and much more.

Check the Stats!

Spotlight 2020 (online)

20 undergraduates.

7 graduate students.

3 post-grads.

15 faculty.

20 performances.

10 different shows!

• Undergrads: 6 leading roles + 3 major comprimario roles

• Grads: 8 leading roles + 1 major comprimario role

• Post-grads: 3 leading roles

Questions? Answers!

• We welcome everyone to the opera experience, no matter what your end goals may be. You do not need to be pursuing a professional singing career to have a great and valuable experience at Spotlight.

• We welcome students from all backgrounds.

• We welcome students aged 15 and up - no upper age limit.

• We are a company of first where students, faculty, and guest artists feel comfortable and supported making many kinds of debuts.

• We genuinely welcome people of all body shapes, skin colors, religions (creeds), genders, gender expressions, ages, national origins, abilities, neurodiversities, marital statuses, and sexual orientations. Please accept our invitation to apply whether or not you feel or have been told that your background is “traditional” for opera.

• Spotlight is an intensive, fast-paced program. Participants must be able to read music, learn it quickly, and come prepared with assigned roles memorized on arrival. Our wonderful faculty will offer plenty of help and support.

Alumni Success

 Auditions

• Applications for 2026 are currently open.

• We accept video auditions and continue casting until all roles are filled.

• We have two live audition dates in Tulsa (December 6 and January 10) and will also be hearing students at several Oklahoma universities. We participate in the NATS Summer Program Auditions, and video auditions are always welcome.

It’s like college or camp!

• You’ll book your own housing. In Tulsa, Vrbo or AirBnB is the most cost-effective and comfortable housing. We’ll help you find roommates if you wish. If you prefer a hotel, we have recommendations.

• Most of our classes and rehearsals will take place on the TCC Southeast Campus in the School of Visual and Performing Arts. There are several lounge areas available for hanging out between classes and rehearsals, including a green room with a fridge and microwave.

• TCC has a coffee shop, burger joint, and TexMex restaurant on campus and you can purchase a meal plan.

• There are also many restaurants at all price points in the area.

• Campus parking is free. Many people bring cars and are happy to share.

• TCC has a shuttle bus system.

• Tulsa has a bus system, microlink transportation, rental scooters, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.

• Favorite day-off activities include picnicking, hiking, swimming, local brew pubs and terrific restaurants, movies, architecture tours, a visit to the Philbrook or Gilcrest Art Museums, or Tulsa’s many live music concerts and shows.

Weekly: Classes, rehearsals, and performances 6 days of the week; 1 floating Company Day Off each week.

Daily:

10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Rehearsals and 1:1s.

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-4:00 p.m. Rehearsals, 1:1s, classes for students not otherwise called.

4:00-6:00 Dinner

6:00-9:00 p.m. Classes

Performances

Performances usually happen on weekends with the exception of the touring children’s opera and occasional concerts.

Work-Study Scholarships:

• A limited number of tuition-only scholarships are available.

Scholarships for Indigenous Students

• Two full tuition scholarships are available to indigenous students, with priority given to students from or residing in one of the nations found within Oklahoma’s borders.

• To apply, include a letter of interest including proof of tribal citizenship or affiliation (if your nation is not officially “recognized," please indicate —- this will not affect your eligibility) , and two letters of recommendation along with your other application materials/

Internships

Full or partial tuition scholarships are available for select Production Team Lead Internships, including:

• Assistant Director/Stage Manager

• Wardrobe

• Hair/Makeup

• Set Building/Deck Run

• Props

• Administrative Assistant

We actively support making room at the table for more BIPOC artists, faculty, and administrators and encourage BIPOC to apply for internships.

To apply, send a letter of interest detailing your experience and interests, resume, and two letters of recommendation to info@spotlightonopera.com.

Get in touch with us! Use the messenger widget or email info@spotlightonopera.com.