Lyric Opera Auditions

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for Lyric Opera of Chicago. Here you will find current audition opportunities across the company.

Singers and instrumentalists wishing to receive audition information from Lyric Opera of Chicago or The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center may contact the appropriate administrators as follows:

Enrique Mazzola, Music Director announces the following vacancy: Section Viola

Auditions to be held February 8-12, 2025 
Successful candidate to start in September 2025

In the 2025/26 Season, the successful candidate may receive:

• 21-week contract (late September – April)
• Base rate and vacation pay to equal $78,000
• Benefits Package (11.99% Pension; Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Instrument
  Insurance)
  

For further information, and to receive audition materials, please email [email protected].

To audition, please send your resume and a $50.00 refundable deposit to:

Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra Auditions
Section Viola
20 North Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

*Please note that audition times will be granted upon receipt of $50.00 deposit.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ONLY

Vacancies resulting from the selection of a current Lyric Opera Orchestra member for any position may be filled at this time by anyother applicant who advances to the finals in these auditions.

 

Enrique Mazzola, Music Director announces the following vacancy: Section Violin

Auditions to be held April 4-5, 7-10, 2025
Successful candidate to start in September 2025

In the 2025/26 Season, the successful candidate may receive:

• 21-week contract (late September – April)
• Base rate and vacation pay to equal $78,000
• Benefits Package (11.99% Pension; Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Instrument
  Insurance)
  

For further information, and to receive audition materials, please email [email protected].

To audition, please send your resume and a $50.00 refundable deposit to:

Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra Auditions
Section Violin
20 North Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

*Please note that audition times will be granted upon receipt of $50.00 deposit.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ONLY

Vacancies resulting from the selection of a current Lyric Opera Orchestra member for any position may be filled at this time by anyother applicant who advances to the finals in these auditions.

Chorus Auditions
2025/2026 Season

Preliminary Auditions

Chicago auditions will take place at the Lyric Opera House (20 N Wacker Drive, Chicago) on the following dates:

• Monday, March 24, 2025 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
• Tuesday, March 20, 2025 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
• Wednesday, March 26, 2025 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
• Friday, March 28, 2025 11:00 am - 12:30 pm & 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
• Saturday, March 29, 2025 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Applicants must sing a preliminary audition to be considered for a callback audition. Please note that callback auditions are not always requested of singers in consideration for contracts.

Callback Auditions
Saturday, March 29, 2025, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm 

Auditions are by invitation only:
Please ensure materials are received no later than 5:00 pm CDT on Monday, March 17, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.

• For audition consideration, singers must submit:
• Current résumé
• Headshot
• Letter that states your first, second and third preferences of audition dates
• Contact information for two references of recognized musical authority with whom you have worked. Please ensure your references are notified that Lyric may contact them.

Please email the above to:
[email protected]

OR mail to:

Chorus Auditions Coordinator
Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 N Wacker Drive, Suite 860
Chicago, IL 60606

Audition Requirements:
Successful applicants must be prepared to present two, memorized opera arias in different languages. 

Auditionees must be United States citizens OR possess, at the time of the audition, legal permission to work in the United States of America during the rehearsal and performance period.

Lyric Opera of Chicago employs a professional chorus under an AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) contract and pays competitive wages. You need not be a union member to audition.

Rehearsal and Performance Period:
The 2025/2026 performance season runs from October 11 through November 23, 2025 (with rehearsals beginning in August) and the week of January 5 through April 19, 2026. A full (tentative) schedule of rehearsals and performances will be provided prior to the commencement of rehearsals.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Lyric Opera of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

2026/27 Ensemble singer and pianist applications are now being accepted!

The approximate contract dates are May 4, 2026 through April 25, 2027 (subject to change), with an option for renewal as the positions are expected to have a two-year residency.

Applications are free and must be submitted via YAP Tracker. For questions, please contact Susanna McNatt, Ryan Opera Center Manager, [email protected], 312-827-3510.

[APPLY NOW FOR 2026/27 SINGERS]

[APPLY NOW FOR 2026/27 PIANIST]

New York City Auditions
Pianist Audition Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Singer Audition Dates: Sunday-Monday, April 6-7, 2025
Application deadline: Monday, March 3, 2025

Chicago Auditions #1
Pianist Audition Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Singer Audition Dates: Friday-Saturday, May 16-17, 2025
Application deadline: Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Chicago Auditions #2
Singer and Pianist Audition Dates: Friday-Saturday, July 11-12, 2025
Application deadline: Friday, June 6, 2025

There are no dance auditions currently scheduled.

There are no Lyric Unlimited auditions currently scheduled.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's music staff consists of cover conductors, répétiteurs, and prompters. If you you like to be considered for a position on Lyric Opera's music staff, please email your résumé and references to [email protected]. If you are interested in cover conducting and have conducting reels available to you, please be sure to include them.

Alternate contact information is:
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Music Staff Auditions
20 N. Wacker Drive, Ste. 860
Chicago, IL 60606

There are no musical theater auditions currently scheduled.

Some productions may require individuals with special talents to perform on stage, including:

• Ballet
• Children's Chorus
• Supernumeraries ("extras")
• Actors

Auditions for these roles are conducted on an "as needed" basis only; to find out about current/upcoming opportunities, please call the Audition Hotline at 312.827.3548. 

Lyric grants auditions for principal roles to professional opera singers on an invitation-only basis. The artist's management should email [email protected] with requests for an audition.

 

To obtain an information packet about becoming a supernumerary at Lyric Opera of Chicago, please send your information to Bill Walters, super captain, at [email protected].

For additional information, please call the supernumerary hotline at 312.827.3538.

Photo: Todd Rosenberg