The Astana Opera recently announced it will accept applications from Aug. 1 to Aug. 30 for enrollment in its children’s studio.
Some applicants will then perform for judges on Sept. 6-7. Children ages 7 to 16 years old are eligible for inclusion in the choir and orchestra and children from 8 to 10 years old are eligible for the ballet studio. Once accepted, the cost for training will be 10,000 tenge (US$55) per month for one child and half price for a second child from the same family. The training will continue until July 31, 2015.
Anyone wishing to take part in the competition is requested to complete an application, which can be found on the website www.astanaopera.kz. On Sept. 2, the list of participants admitted to compete for children’s choir, children’s orchestra and children’s ballet will be available on the theatre’s website in the “About the theatre,” “Children’s Studio” section.
The studio began its work in November 2013. During the last season, about 150 people ranging in age from 5 to 16 years studied opera, ballet and instrumental ensemble.
The children have the opportunity to not only work, but perform in Astana Opera productions. Professional children’s groups of the studio perform musical stories, participate in concerts, opera and ballet performances. Young performers have repeatedly performed at the Chamber Hall of the Astana Opera independently and with well-known Kazakh cultural figures in productions such as Puccini’s “La Boheme,” “Tosca,” Minkus ballet “Don Quixote.”
