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Young Singers’ Programme

In the autumn of 2022, the Finnish National Opera launched a new programme in support of the professional development of young singers, with the Louise and George Ehrnrooth Foundation as its founding partner. The singers, who are selected for the programme based on applications and an audition, are offered a temporary trainee soloist contract at the Finnish National Opera for one season at a time. They will be featured in Main Stage productions.

The application for the season 2025-2026 of Young singers’ programme starts on August 26, 2024. More detailed information about the application will be published on this page later in the beginning of Autumn season.

The singers selected for the programme

For the 2023–2024 season, the first singers to be chosen for the Young Singers’ Programme are the sopranos Iris Candelaria and Elisaveta Rimkevitch. They will also continue in the programme for the 2024–2025 season, with Jussi Vänttinen joining as a new singer

”We’d like to extend our congratulations to the Finnish National Opera for selecting such talented singers from an outstanding pool of applications. We are thrilled that, thanks to the selection, the Young Singers’ Programme is now ready to begin.”

– GEORG EHRNROOTH, Chairman of the Board, The Louise & Göran Ehrnrooth Foundation

The application for the season 2025-2026

Finnish National Opera is seeking singers for a fixed-term monthly salaried position for the 2025–2026 season based on auditions for the Young Singers Programme launched with the Louise and Göran Ehrnrooth Foundation in autumn 2022.

Apply here between 26 August and 30 September 2024 

Singers who participated in the program in previous years performed several roles on the main stage of the Finnish National Opera and appeared in other events. In addition, they received coaching, language training, mentoring and participated in master classes.

Applicants are expected to have a conservatory or university degree in vocal arts and/or several years of professional-level vocal studies and performance experience. In addition, the applicant must be of legal age and born in 1989 or later. Live auditions will be held in early November in Helsinki.

“The Young Singers’ Programme at Finnish National Opera is an opportunity for talented singing actors to immerse themselves in a community of expert practice. We offer a bespoke prrogramme of activity built to harness the potential of each participant as artist and communicator. We welcome applications from far and wide. And we very much look forward to hearing from you.”
-Thomas de Mallet Burgess, Artistic Director of Opera

Singers in the season 2024-2025

Iris Candelaria

Soprano Iris Candelaria graduated with a Master of Music degree from the opera programme of the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki in summer 2022, with Annika Ollikari. Candelaria made her debut at the Finnish National Opera as Queen of the Night in W.A Mozart’s The Magic Flute and at the Savonlinna Opera Festival as the High Priestess in Verdi’s Aida. She won joint first prize in the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in January 2023.

Elisaveta Rimkevitch

Soprano Elisaveta Rimkevitch completed her Master of Music degree in classical vocal studies at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki in summer 2021. The board of the Pro Musica Foundation chose her as the young musician of the year in 2017. She was a finalist in the Timo Mustakallio Singing Competition in 2017 and 2019 and the Kangasniemi Singing Contest in 2018. Rimkevitch also come in joint third place in the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2023.

Jussi Vänttinen

Jussi Vänttinen

Baritone Jussi Vänttinen holds a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy’s opera programme and a Master of Opera from Stockholm’s Operahögskolan. He won the men’s category of the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in early 2019. In September of the same year, he debuted at the Finnish National Opera in the role of Moralès in Bizet’s opera Carmen. Vänttinen has also performed as a soloist with several Finnish orchestras and has appeared in concerts at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm and the Malmö Opera.

”Being a successful opera singer requires skills, which you can only learn from experienced, world-class professionals. The Young Singers’ Programme of the Finnish National Opera will be an excellent opportunity to mentor, encourage and inspire young musicians in all the aspects of performing arts. I’m very excited to take part in this project!”

– Hannu Lintu, Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet

support young singers’ program

Your donation to the Young Singers’ Program will support the development of opera singers at the start of their professional career.

donate online

Any questions?

For more information about the programme, please contact External Relations Manager Lauri Pokkinen, lauri.pokkinen@opera.fi

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