Wolf Trap Kim Pensinger Witman, General Director Lisa A. Ostrich, Administrative Director Angela Gilbert and Joshua Winograde in a scene from the 2001 presentation of Viva la mamma . Photograph by Carol Pratt. Established in 1971, the Company has developed into one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. The primary mission of the Opera Company is to discover and encourage the finest emerging talent in the opera field. It serves young singers of exceptional achievement and potential who are at an interim point between academic training and full-time professional operatic careers.
Opportunities are also available for an apprentice coach and apprentice director.
All productions are professionally conducted, directed, coached, and designed. They are performed in original language with full orchestra. From an initial pool of close to 500 applicants each fall, approximately 250 singers are chosen to be heard in live nationwide auditions . Each season consists of three fully staged operas, as well as recital and concert presentations. Each season's repertoire is chosen to showcase the particular strengths of the ensemble members.