Joyce DiDonato (Cinderella) with 2006 Apprentice Singers
Photo: Ken Howard

The Apprentice Singer Program has been helping young singers establish their careers since 1957. James Morris, Samuel Ramey, Franco Farina, and Neil Shicoff all got their start at Santa Fe. More recent apprentices, such as Celena Shafer, Michelle de Young, Beth Clayton, William Burden, Kurt Streit, and Joyce DiDonato, are now enjoying international careers.

Each summer some 40 apprentice singers are selected from more than 1,100 applicants. Apprentices are cast in many supporting roles and understudy leading roles, in addition to forming the ensemble for the season’s productions.

The rigorous schedule of training and performance is an ideal introduction to the world of professional opera—and a springboard to a successful career. In the 2006-07 season former Santa Fe apprentices sang principal roles at The Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Opéra de Paris, Covent Garden, Los Angeles Opera, and many other prominent companies.