10 STEPS TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL CLASSICAL SINGING CV

By Audition Oracle – Thu 23 Nov 2023 @ 16:23

You have approximately 10 seconds to make the cut!

Opera companies receive vast numbers of CVs for a very limited amount of audition slots. Make sure your most relevant credits are easily visible. In the UK & many other countries, a one-page CV is often all you need. Spreading your CV over 2, 3 or 4 pages risks employers missing out on your best work.

1. TELL US WHO YOU ARE

Name, voice type, contact details and visas (if required)

 
Image showing what to include at the top of CV
 
 

2. HYPERLINK TO VIDEO AND AUDIO FILES 

Show us where to see and hear your best work.

  • Upload to Vimeo, YouTube, Soundcloud or similar
  • Videos - the eyes are so important to communication, so make sure they are visible, and open
  • Take down old videos/recordings that no longer serve you
  • Avoid over-processed demos
  • Listen back. Make friends with your voice

3. PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT 

Your photo is an important memory aid for the panel. 

  • Make sure it’s an honest representation of you
  • Again, it’s all in the eyes
  • Keep it simple – elegant clothing, no props and scenery
  • Avoid the overly glamorous, stylised and processed
  • Cropped to head and shoulders

4. FUTURE AND RECENT EXPERIENCE 

  • Display role, work, company, director, conductor, and year.
  • Use tables to display your credits in tidy columns
  • Include the composer if the work is less well-known or is new
  • Does your experience make sense?
  • Are noticeable gaps briefly explained?
  • Is the experience included relevant?
 Future experience
 
 

5. FURTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 

Research the company as you may have other relevant experience to include. 

 
Include any relevant experience
 
 

6. AWARDS: COMPETITIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

 
Award, organisation, year
 
 

7. TRAINING AND EDUCATION

 
Award, Course, Organisation and Year
 
 

8. LANGUAGES

 
Languages
 
 

9. SKILLS

 
Include relevant skills 
 

10. THE FINAL EDIT 

Proofread

  • Spell-check
  • Format check
  • Information check
  • Does it all fit comfortably on one page? Allow yourself two sides only if necessary
  • Give the file a helpful name; name, voice type, date
  • And finally, save your CV as a PDF file

Portfolio career is a term we hear all the time now. Tailor CVs to your different work strands, only combining them when appropriate to the opportunity. Now you're all prepped with your elegant, clear and concise CV, visit the Audition Oracle auditions page and search all the latest opera auditions, masterclasses, training opportunities, young and emerging artist programmes and so much more.