Apprentice Artist Update from The General & Artistic Director, Michael Egel
When I first began working in various backstage production departments, one of my favorite parts of the job was listening from the wings to the incredible singing. Today, I get the chance to do that from out front. While you might think most of that happens during the summer season, it’s actually a three-week period in the fall, during DMMO’s annual audition tour, when most of the listening occurs.
Every September and October, Lisa Hasson, Allen Perriello, and I travel across the country to hear applicants for the company’s acclaimed Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program. I remember the first time I attended in 1999 and got a glimpse into this unique process. Few things bring me greater joy than a wonderful day of auditions. There are many aspects most people would find surprising, but perhaps none more so than the sheer number of young people eager to express themselves through song.
This year, 1,017 aspiring singers applied to sing a live audition for DMMO: 478 sopranos, 171 mezzo-sopranos, 157 tenors, 136 baritones, 73 basses, and 2 countertenors. From that group, nearly 500 singers were heard in one of seven cities. Seventy-seven percent of those who participated in 2025 indicated a desire to return in 2026 if eligible. Two years is generally the limit, though exceptions may be made. A primary goal in our process is access. Not all singers have the resources to travel, so we go to them. This season, we heard artists in Houston, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Des Moines. In all but New York, we’re hosted by a major conservatory.
Audition days are long, typically six to seven hours with just a short break for lunch, and are spent in windowless rooms under the hum of fluorescent lights. The process requires stamina, anticipation, and joy. It also requires a special pianist. DMMO is fortunate to have skilled audition pianists who can sight-read or play at a high level any aria a singer brings into the room, often with only about 30 seconds of preparation before the audition begins. Having such talented pianists provides singers with assurance and comfort, enabling them to perform at their best with solid support from the piano, which acts as their orchestra.
Every eight minutes, a new young talent comes through the door to give it their best shot. They hope it will be their strongest audition yet, and we hope to discover an exciting new voice.
The average age of participants is around 26, though there’s no age restriction. Sometimes we’ll hear an extraordinary singer just over 30 with one of those later-blooming, larger voice types. And sometimes a 21-year-old bass walks in with a sound maturity that knocks our socks off. Young bass Noah Mond was just such a singer. We first heard him in 2024 and invited him back in 2025. “I’ve been very lucky to call DMMO my summer haven for two seasons,” he said.
Now that we’ve completed the process, Lisa, Allen, and I compare notes and begin making priority lists for offers. It’s a complex puzzle. Within each voice type are small roles and understudies to be assigned. We make offers in batches over several weeks, based on mutually agreed-upon priorities, with some negotiation and give-and-take along the way. I’m happy that most of our top choices accept, as DMMO has become one of the most sought-after opportunities in the industry.
For the singers, it’s a time of choices. Many receive multiple offers from other companies. Some ask for extensions until they’ve heard back from all the summer programs they auditioned for. This allows them to weigh their options and make the best decision for their careers. As I write this, we’ve filled about two-thirds of our 40 positions and expect to be finished in the next several days.
I’m proud of the experiences we provide to next-generation talent and the positive impact they bring to the company as covers, small-role performers, and members of one of the greatest American opera choruses. Audrey Welsh, a mezzo-soprano who joined us in 2024 and 2025, said it best: “DMMO is a place where singers of every background and stage of career are celebrated for what makes them unique. The mentorship is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The entire company makes you feel valued, seen, and heard.” Both Audrey and Noah have been accepted into major programs for the summer of 2026!
I hope you’ll join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026, for the Apprentice Spotlight Concert, my favorite night of the year, when we launch the summer festival with an aria from every Apprentice Artist. Our founder, Robert L. Larsen, always referred to the program as the “lifeblood of the organization” because of our focus on training the next generation. It’s only fitting that the first notes of the summer season are sung by these rising artists. I hope to see you at Apprentice Spotlight this year so you can experience for yourself this amazing group of young singers.