Behind the scenes

There’s only one thing even better than being in the audience at an NSO performance and that’s taking part in the performance yourself.  And that doesn’t necessarily mean performing on stage. You could be back stage, working win the team that helped turn the designer’s creations into reality. Or front of house, helping to make a performance into an all-round memorable experience. 

There are many tasks for which we would welcome offers of help, both for our main productions and for our “in-house” productions. Interest and enthusiasm are more important than prior experience. We are looking for members of a team, and there will be plenty of opportunities to learn as you go along.  If you would like to explore ways in which you could be involved, contact us.

Soloists

A solo role in one of our major productions can broaden and deepen your professional experience, see you working with top-flight conductors and directors, and joining the ranks of NSO alumni for whom performing with us was a seminal experience and about whom Suzy Klein famously said “New Sussex Opera really does have this knack of latching onto brilliant talented people who are absolutely on the way up and about to be snatched by major opera houses.” 

We hold auditions for each  production but as a start, email us your cv plus a recent photo. For NSO Chorus productions, solo roles are unpaid and all singers are welcome to audition for these roles.

Chorus

The core of New Sussex Opera is the NSO Chorus. We warmly invite amateur and local singers to come and be part of this dynamic group – no previous operatic experience necessary! The focus of the NSO Chorus’ activity is performing in NSO’s productions: staged performances of opera and operetta, operas in concert, and concerts of operatic highlights.

During productions, the NSO Chorus is working alongside an expert production team, conductor, soloists and orchestra. NSO Chorus members are also offered the opportunity to audition for supporting roles in our productions, or solos in “in-house” productions and concerts. The NSO Chorus operates on a project basis. During production periods, Chorus rehearsals usually take place in Lewes on Sunday afternoons, with occasional sessions on weekday evenings. Singers of all voices, of any age, are welcome.

 

New members have a simple audition for the chorus, and have an initial trial period, because standards are high and the chorus is recognised as making a huge contribution to the distinctive NSO ‘sound’ that underpins our growing – and glowing – reputation.  Having said that, it is a big plus if you can read music, and acknowledge that opera calls for acting as well as singing ability – both of which will be enhanced by your first and subsequent productions with us.

We expect that members of the chorus will become members of the company. We also hope that they will make a donation towards the cost of each production in which they take part. Come and be part of your exciting, talented, and friendly local company. Tenors are especially welcome!
See our chorus schedule page.

Contact Chorus Manager Richard Pulham for further details 
 ([email protected]).

 

Orfeo in rehearsal

‘Thank you all so very much for a wonderful performance experience. Meeting all of you was a joy, and the support and respect shown by everyone, cast and creative team alike, was something all professional companies should be striving for.’
Erin Alexander, Soprano (Angelina in Trial by Jury, November 2016)

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