Rehearsals are all mandatory and are currently scheduled as follows:

Saturday 1 June 2.00pm - 3.30pm (Introductory session: Parents welcome)
Saturday 28 July 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Sunday 4 August 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Sunday 11 August 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Sunday 18 August 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Sunday 25 August 2.00pm - 3.30pm

*There will be a special rehearsal scheduled between one day and one week prior to the performance. This is a four-hour rehearsal, usually held between 4pm-8pm on a weekday or 10am-2pm on a weekend. The exact time for this is TBC.

Friday 30 August 3.30pm - 10.00pm
Saturday 31 August 6.15pm - 10.00pm

Please fill out the form linked above, including Uploading a video of the Choir Applicant introducing themselves (name and age), and singing Happy Birthday in the following key:   here Application videos will be stored securely and deleted at the completion of the application process. They will not be publicly accessible or viewable.

Opera Australia is strongly committed to the safety and well-being of all children that interact with our organisation as employees, audience members, regional program participants or otherwise by creating and maintaining a child safe environment. The welfare of children entrusted under our care is our first priority and we have zero tolerance for child abuse.

Parents/guardians must agree to the participation of their child/ward in Opera Australia’s performance of La Bohème. The rehearsals for the Children’s Chorus will be under the direction and supervision of local Choir leaders and supervisors engaged by the local presenter and not employed by Opera Australia. On the day of performance the children’s chorus will also be under the direction and supervision of Opera Australia employees. The children will attend all chorus rehearsals as directed by the local Choir Leader, and will arrive punctually as per advised schedule and ready to perform on the day of the performance. Parents/guardians must agree to provide all items listed on the Children’s Requirements Checklist for their child’s participation in the program. This program does not in any way constitute current or future employment by Opera Australia, and the children are taking part in this program on a volunteer basis. Opera Australia reserves the right to assess the onstage and offstage performances of the individual Children’s Chorus members. If a child has not learnt their role, is willfully disruptive or does not follow direction onstage or offstage, Opera Australia staff may remove them from the performance or modify their part in the performance. This will be at the discretion of the Opera Australia Chorus Master, Conductor, Child Coordinator, Tour Administrator or Associate Producer, and no discussion will be entered into. Parents/guardians can authorise Opera Australia and/or associated media personnel to take photographs, film, and video or sound recordings of their child/ward’s participation in this project for the purpose of reporting on and promoting this event and/or Opera Australia.

Opera Australia will provide the costumes for the students to wear onstage, however children will need to bring their own base costumes, a white t-shirt or singlet for modesty, bike shorts or comfortable undergarments and black school shoes. Shoes need to be entirely black; no insignias or logos, stripes, coloured laces, etc. School shoes would be ideal – alternatively black canvas shoes, black sneakers (so long as they are free of logos, stripes, etc.), or even dress shoes if the children happen to have a pair. Please don’t feel as if anything special needs to be purchased for the performance – any plain black shoes the children already own will do perfectly.

La Bohème T-Shirts will be available for purchase; information will be sent to parents of successful applicants in case they would like to purchase.