Opera Creation Forum

The Opera Creation Forum is a new, paid, professional development opportunity for composers and writers at any stage of their professional career who want to gain intensive, hands-on training in the collaborative art of opera creation. A co-production between Musique 3 Femmes and Opéra de Montréal, the OCF will be hosted by Opéra de Montréal and directed by opera composer and dramaturg, Luna Pearl Woolf. Taking place from February 5-16, 2025, in Montreal, Quebec, the Forum will provide four composers and four writers the opportunity to work with performers, directors, and opera creation mentors, focusing on the process and principles of collaboration, and working through exploratory assignments. Each creator will be partnered with each writer and performer in rotation, to create four new works within the twelve-day intensive. Immediate feedback will come through reading and discussion sessions between each creation period, and an informal showcase at the end of the Forum will give invited guests a chance to hear the outcome of participants' experience. If you’ve heard of Tapestry Opera’s Lib Lab, or Nautilus Music Theater’s Composer Librettist Studio, you have a sense of the kind of focused learning and creative development energy that the OCF aims to provide. 

 

The Opera Creation Forum is made possible because of the generous support of Mecenat Musica, the Azrieli Foundation and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. 

 

Who should apply?

Canadian-based francophone and anglophone composers and librettists are encouraged to apply. Creators can be at any stage in their professional career. We recommend the Forum for those who have a genuine interest, but limited previous experience working in opera and other music-text collaborative forms. Composers working in a wide variety of styles are welcome, with the understanding that the ability to create a readable musical score is essential to the forum’s process. This Forum is not intended for creators who are currently enrolled in an academic program. Pre-existing creative teams may apply as individuals. Creators of all gender identities are welcome. In keeping with Musique 3 Femmes' objectives for gender equity in opera, at least half of the creators chosen for this activity will be female or non-binary. 

 

Languages

While most group activities will use English as the primary language, both francophone and anglophone creators are warmly encouraged to apply, and bilingual mentors will be available at all points in the process. Within the Forum, projects can be created in the language of the creators’ choice.
 

Time Commitment

The OCF is an intensive twelve-day program beginning February 5, 2025 in the afternoon, and concluding the evening of February 16, 2025. Beyond group activities, composers and writers will spend most of their time collaborating, writing and composing. For this reason it is strongly recommended that participants plan to NOT work on any other projects or take on any time-sensitive responsibilities during the full duration of the Forum. Applicants must be available to participate in all sessions to be considered.

 

Compensation

Because of the time commitment required to participate in this professional development Forum, all participants will receive an honorarium of $2000. Limited travel stipends and lodging arrangements will be available for participants from outside of Montreal.

 

Application Process

Composers and writers will be selected to participate in the OCF through a competitive application process. You will be asked to submit a CV, a written or video statement of interest in creating opera and why participation in OCF is important for you at this point in your career. Two samples of your work will also be requested. The application form can be found HERE.

 

The application deadline is November 20, 2024. Application status will be communicated to both successful and unsuccessful applicants by December 12, 2024.

 

In Brief:

Who: Professional composers and writers based based in Canada with an interest in creating opera

When: February 5-16, 2025

Location: Montréal, Québec

Applications due: Nov 20, 2024, 11:59pm EST​​

 

Questions? Please reach out to kristin@musique3femmes.com