Auditions and Employment
Auditions
Chorus Auditions
2019-2020 SEASON
The Michigan Opera Theatre announces chorus auditions for its 2019-20 season. Auditions will be held at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226 on:
| Thursday | May 9 | 6:00-9:00p |
| Thursday | May 16 | 4:00-9:00p |
| Tuesday | May 21 | 4:00-9:00p |
The Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus is a professional group of diverse men and women of all professions and backgrounds. Choristers rehearse weekday evenings and weekends for each production period. For more information about Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus please visit michiganopera.org/auditions-employment/
The 2019-20 season productions in which the chorus may participate are:
Don Giovanni - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sweeney Todd - Stephen Sondheim
Champion - Terence Blanchard
Pagliacci – Ruggero Leoncavallo
CHORUS AUDITIONS: must include two arias. One in English and one in a foreign language. Music must be memorized. Operatic repertoire is preferred, but standard oratorio selections will be accepted. Sight reading may be requested. Singers are required to bring their own music in the correct key. MOT will provide an accompanist.
TO APPLY FOR AN AUDITION:Singers who wish to be considered for an audition should send resume & photo to Michigan Opera Theatre at production@motopera.org.
Please include CHORUS AUDITION in the subject line along with date preference. Following review of your resume you will be contacted to schedule an audition.
Vocalists of the Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
Michigan Opera Theatre is an equal opportunity employer.
Information for Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus Members
ABOUT:
The Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus is hired on a per production basis. Michigan Opera Theatre engages its artists under an American Guild of Musical Artists contract.
Michigan Opera Theatre holds auditions for the chorus once per calendar year for the following opera season. Chorus members must audition each year. If offered a chorus position in one or more operas, the following information will apply.
PAY SCALE:
Chorus Pay levels: (as of 9/01/19)
B (1st– 8thproduction): $18.00 per rehearsal hour; $138.29 per performance.
A (9th+ production): $19.00 per rehearsal hour; $164.68 per performance.
Chorus is paid every 2 weeks
ABSENCES:
All conflicts with the rehearsal and performance schedule must be submitted when you accept the position, and the Company retains the right to excuse or not excuse the conflict(s). In the event of unexcused conflicts, the Company reserves the right to withdraw the contract offer.
Any subsequent conflicts must be submitted with explanation to Elizabeth Anderson in the Production Department (313.237-3405). The Company retains the right to excuse or not excuse any subsequent conflicts.
Any absence not previously excused by the Company is considered unexcused.
Late arrival for rehearsals and unexcused absences will be documented with a letter designating your tardy or absence. A copy of this letter will be kept in your file at Michigan Opera Theatre.
The following sections of the current collective bargaining agreement address tardiness &/or absences as follows:
Paragraph 28(j)(1) of the AGMA basic agreement:
“Frequent and repeated unexcused tardiness is disruptive to the rehearsal and performance process, and may be considered a breach of contract. Accordingly, frequent and repeated tardiness may result in discipline or dismissal.”
Paragraph 28(j)(2) of the AGMA basic agreement:
“Frequent and repeated unexcused absences are disruptive to the rehearsal and performance process. Three (3) or more unexcused absences within a season may constitute a breach of contract, and, accordingly, may result in discipline or dismissal.”
Paragraph 28(j)(5) of the AGMA basic agreement.
“The COMPANY reserves the right to dismiss a CHORISTER from any production if the CHORISTER’S absence makes continuing in the production impractical.”
AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) is the union that represents our musical artists including the chorus.
The Company engages musical artists under an AGMA Standard Artist’s Contract for Employment. Each artist engaged will have the right to join or refrain from joining AGMA in accordance with Michigan’s right to work law. Regardless of whether you join AGMA, the terms of the CBA with AGMA will apply to your work with MOT.
AGMA elects local representatives. The current representatives noted below, are fellow members of the chorus and are available to answer any questions as well as give you a copy of the contract between MOT and AGMA so you are fully aware of your rights, responsibilities, and protections. Please address all questions regarding the union to your AGMA representative or to AGMA directly.
Membership in AGMA::
AGMA initiation fee is $1000. This amount can be worked out on a payment plan through the union directly. AGMA requires you to pay dues in the amount of $79 per year as well as a 2% fee deducted from every paycheck. The $79.00 is billed annually beginning in December and will be due and payable by January 31.
A copy of the agreement between Michigan Opera Theatre and AGMA is available in the Production Department upon request.
You may find more information at www.musicalartists.org. Please make sure that you review the page marked “Member Info”
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Contact info:
American Guild of Musical Artists
1430 Broadway, 14th floor
New York, NY 10018
Toll free: 1-800-543-AGMA
212.265-3687
212.265-1314
Local AGMA Rep’s:
Yvonne Friday
313-862-2534
yfriday@voyager.net
Richard Jackson, Jr.
734-476-2969
xfa1@msn.com
Scheduling
The schedule you receive with your offer of employment is subject to change. You will continue to receive schedules from the Opera as dates or times are updated to adjust to the production schedule for the show. Per our union contract, we are required to notify you of any change of schedule 48 hours in advance.
You may notice dates that are followed with “(option)”. This means that the Opera is holding that date and that time for a rehearsal and reserves the optionto cancel it. You will be notified in advance if the rehearsal is to be cancelled.
Costume fittings are scheduled during the rehearsal period for each show. Fittings are scheduled by the Costume Shop utilizing a web-based scheduling system. If your measurements were not returned to the company when you signed your contract or have changed dramatically since your previous work with MOT, please contact Suzanne Hanna, shanna@motopera.org, to have new measurements taken.
Sign-in Sheets
Sign in sheets will be posted on a bulletin board outside the rehearsal space before every rehearsal or performance. You are required to sign in upon arrival. If you do not sign in you cannot be paid. Please make sure you sign in legibly prior to every rehearsal.
Music
Michigan Opera Theatre will provide you with the chorus parts for the opera you are involved in. You will be notified via email when those parts are available to you. Parts are signed out from the Production Department, located on the 3rd floor of the Detroit Opera House. If you are interested in purchasing a full piano vocal score for the opera you are in, you may contact the Production Coordinator for information on the edition being used.
Music is to be returned before the final performance of the show being performed. If your copy is not returned by that time you will be responsible for the cost of its replacement. It is not an option to “purchase” your chorus score as a memento.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held in the Detroit Opera House. Every time you enter the building, you will enter at the Stage Door, located on the Madison Street side under the smaller of the two red awnings. You are required to sign in prior to each rehearsal downstairs at security and sign out when you leave (in ADDITION to the sign in sheets posted outside your rehearsal location).
Depending on other events being held in the building, your rehearsal space may change. Please refer to your schedule to notify you of where to go in the building.
BUILDING ETIQUETTE:
Rehearsals and performances are restricted to those involved in the show only. This applies as well after a production moves from the rehearsal space to the stage. No chorus guests or family are allowed backstage at any time.
Food and drink are not allowed in the rehearsal room or on stage. Water is acceptable if in a closed container.
Parking
Michigan Opera Theatre will provide you with a parking pass to park in the Detroit Opera House Parking Center.
If you lose this parking pass, you will be charged $5 for a replacement.
Notification
Michigan Opera Theatre communicates with the chorus through email. While on contract (first rehearsal – last performance) you are expected to check email on a regular basis for any updates or communicationfrom the theatre. Following the initial offer of employment from MOT, all correspondence comes from the following address: production@motopera.org. Please make sure to add it to you address book so that you receive all information coming from the company.
Memorization Expectations
Michigan Opera Theatre requires that your music be memorized 2 rehearsals PRIOR to your first rehearsal with the conductor for the production.
Complimentary & Discount Tickets
The Company provides each Chorister 2 complimentary tickets to a performance designated by the Company, in which the Company is the sole producer, for each production in which he/she appears. In order to receive these tickets each Chorister is required to sign up for the tickets on a form provided by the Company. This sign-up sheet shall be available no later than one week before opening night of said production.
AGMA Artists receiving complimentary tickets may be required to pay the ticket administrative fee uniformly charged for all tickets, which fee shall not exceed $4.00.
The Company provides each Chorister employed in at least one production during the season a 25% discount on the purchase of tickets for all opera production during that season. This discount is based on availability, and limited to 2 tickets per production unless otherwise approved by the Company.
Michigan Opera Theatre Pianist Auditions
We are in search of flexible and collaborative pianists in the Detroit area to play rehearsals, musical events, and accompany shows that may take place in the daytime or evenings.
Qualified candidates will have:
- Experience working with singers
- Knowledge of the operatic repertoire
- Sight reading ability
To apply, Send a resume to sacton@motopera.org
Be an Extra
Being an extra with Michigan Opera Theatre provides the perfect "backstage" opportunity. See how it all happens without any of the pressure the stars have!
Typical supernumerary work
Supernumeraries are usually amateur character artists who train under professional direction to create a believable scene. They almost become part of the props and give a sense of credibility to scenes where crowds, court assistants, lackeys, peasants or a variety of period characters are needed.
Join us
To be notified of the next supernumerary opportunity, please submit the form, below.
Jobs
Employment
Immerse yourself in music and theater while working in the most beautiful building in Detroit as the Director of Marketing and Communications of Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT). Michigan’s premiere opera company has a rich legacy in Detroit, restoring two historic theaters and stimulating the transformation of a once-desolate neighborhood into the city’s now thriving entertainment district. Be part of a team that continues to support the revitalization of Detroit by presenting the world’s best singers and dance companies to Southeast Michigan.
The MOT Director of Marketing and Communications reports to the President/Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the successful development and implementation of MOT’s marketing, branding, sales, research, and communications efforts. He/she is responsible for achieving sales goals and raising visibility and awareness of MOT both locally and nationally to support all institutional goals.
The Director of Marketing and Communications for Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) reports to the President/Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the successful development and implementation of MOT’s marketing, branding, sales, research, and communications efforts. He/she is responsible for achieving sales goals and raising visibility and awareness of MOT both locally and nationally to support all institutional goals.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Leads initiatives in the development and implementation of innovative marketing, communications and sales/service strategies to achieve revenue goals, builds the MOT brand, promotes opera and dance series and raise awareness both locally and nationally of Opera programs and achievements.
- Develops and regularly reviews departmental budgets.
- Develops season and single ticket sales goals and revenue projections in collaboration with other senior leaders.
- Develops overall communications strategies and plans for each season and oversees the implementation of all aspects related to implementation of such.
- Develops plans and leads messaging decisions for communicating MOT’s activities to the media.
- Develops plans and leads messaging decisions for website, social media and e-communications programs.
- Oversees the achievement of season and single ticket sales goals.
- Monitors, reports and analyzes sales metrics to track marketing communications outcomes and strategically enhance future marketing communications plans.
- Leads discussions relating to the determination of ticket pricing, discounting and scaling of the performance hall to maximize attendance and revenue.
- Stewards the MOT brand, including consistently enforcing company-wide use of graphics standards and style guidelines as well as key organizational messages.
- Ensures MOT patrons receive outstanding service.
- Develops innovative ways to build the MOT brand, develop new audiences, and deepen patron engagement and loyalty.
- Leads the MOT’s research efforts to better understand and respond to its patrons utilizing both qualitative and quantitative forms of research.
- Collaborates with team members to support building a culture of philanthropy.
- Stays abreast of trends in the opera industry and in the local arts market, using information and networking to discover and implement best practices and new ideas.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Position Qualifications:
- Five or more years of experience successfully leading marketing and communications functions of a complex organization, including subscription campaign experience. Performing arts experience preferred.
- Five years of focused experience in customer or member acquisition and retention.
- Demonstrated experience supervising high-performing individuals and teams.
- Proven ability to build strong brands and increase earned income.
- Demonstrated experience with marketing communication disciplines and multi-channel campaign design and execution. Experience with TRG Consulting preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related degree, or equivalent education plus experience. Master’s degree preferred.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, email marketing, and ticketing systems required; experience with Tessitura required.
- Demonstrated ability to work well with and connect appropriately with leadership volunteers.
Note: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Compensation commensurate with experience, and includes a competitive benefits package.
Please send your resume and salary expectations to: employment@motopera.org
March 2019
