96-Hour Opera Festival and Competition

Application & Competition

Competition

JUNE 17-25, 2025
RAY CHARLES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER @ MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

• World Premieres
• Competition & Showcase
• $10,000 Prize & $25,000 Commission

Now in its fourth season, the 96-Hour Opera Festival celebrates the artistry of emerging creative talents and offers a path into the art of opera. Launched as the 96-Hour Opera Project, the Festival expanded from the original composition competition to add developmental workshops and incubator performances of works by competition winners. The competition remains the heart of the Festival and welcomes emerging composers and librettists, pairing them to write ten-minute operas. Bringing their completed works to Atlanta, the creative teams are allowed 96 hours to rehearse and develop their productions with guidance from specialists in the field from June 17 through 21, 2025.

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, a public showcase will feature the ten-minute operas at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College and a winning team is selected by a distinguished group of judges. All selected participants will receive a $1000 honorarium. The Atlanta Opera presents the Antinori Grand Prize to the winning team — a $10,000 award and an Atlanta Opera commission for a one-act work to be produced and performed in an upcoming season.

The 96-Hour Festival also features presentations of the works in development by previous competition winners. Tickets and a full schedule of public opportunities to view these world premieres will be released in March 2025.

Designed specifically for composers and librettists from historically under-recognized communities, the 96-Hour Opera Competition is open to those who self-identify as part of a demographic that has been under-presented in the creative pantheon of opera.

The Atlanta Opera provides singing talent, and a pianist as collaborators to bring the new works to life. The Atlanta Opera will provide a compelling story theme(s) to be presented to the selected teams. The story prompts form the basis of the plot lines of the submitted works.

DATES & DEADLINES

Mon, Dec 4, 2024
Applications now online
More info: [email protected]

Tue Feb 11, 2025
Application deadline

Mid-March 2025
Participants announcement
Tickets on sale

Tue, Jun 17-25, 2025
96-Hour Opera Festival

Fri, Jun 20, 2025
2023 Winning Competition Production:
Steele Roots
by Dave Ragland & Selda Sabin

Sat, Jun 21, 2025
Competition Showcase
– open to the public

Tickets

Tickets on sale in Mar 2025.

DATES
June 17-25, 2025

VENUE
Ray Charles Performing Arts Center

Application

Apply online through YAP Tracker.

For questions concerning applications or participation in the 96-Hour Opera Festival, please email [email protected].

Apply Here

FAQ

What is The 96-Hour Opera Festival?

Now in its fourth season, the event launched as the 96-Hour Opera Project has expanded to include developmental workshops and incubator performances of works by competition winners from previous seasons, in addition to the annual competition.

The competition, in which teams of composers and librettists have four days to workshop and stage completely new and compelling 10-minute operas, is the heart of the festival. Each team presents their work in a showcase before an audience and the panel of judges.

Winners from previous year’s competition will have the opportunity to present their developed works in an incubator setting and, the following year, as a more developed workshopped opera.

What is the date and location of the performances?

In 2025, the 96-Hour Opera Festival will commence on Tuesday, June 17 and conclude with the competition showcase. The working locations and performance venue will be hosted in partnership with Morehouse College, School of Music. The competition finals will be open to the public and will be held at the Ray Charles Center for the Performing Arts located at 900 West End Ave, SW in Atlanta, on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

What are "Stories that Resonate"?

The Atlanta Opera will provide a compelling story theme or themes for the participating librettists and composers. The story prompts will be given to the creative teams in advance of the competition with time to engage in exploration and research on the subject.

Who should apply?

Designed specifically for composers and librettists who have been historically underrecognized in the opera field, the competition is open to composers and librettists who self-identify as part of a demographic that has been underrecognized in opera composition.

We are only able to accept permanent residents and citizens of the United States for this project.

There is no age range or limit for applying, but composers and librettists who are in the early stages of their careers are encouraged to participate.

Application is limited to artists who are determined to have significant skills as a composer and/or playwright/librettist through academic study and limited professional experiences; who demonstrate a unique perspective that could benefit from mentorship.

Successful applicants will express interest and enthusiasm for opera as a form for storytelling and their work, however artists with no previous opera experience are encouraged to apply. They will demonstrate excellence as evidenced by submitted samples of previous composition/writing and a developed voice in their chosen art form and will commit to following a provided story prompt to develop a 10-minute work for a maximum of two voices.

What if a librettist doesn’t have a composing partner or vice versa?

We will provide an option to pair artists, based on their experience and interests.

What resources does the competition provide to participants?

All participating teams will travel to Atlanta after preparing their works in advance of the program. Travel (airfare or mileage reimbursement), housing, singers, pianists and space will be provided to each composer/librettist team to showcase their new mini-operas.

What are the judging criteria for the applications?

Submissions will be evaluated based on artistic excellence or the potential for artistic excellence, artistic ability, knowledge of both vocal and orchestral writing (composers), and character development (librettists).

Who are the judges for the competition?

Judges will be announced soon.

What is the 96-hour structure?

• DAY 1: Tue, Jun 17, 2025 – Introductions and music rehearsal
• DAY 2: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 – Rehearsal and staging

Thu, June 19, 2025: Juneteenth, Day off for all

• DAY 3: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 – Coaching, mentorship with judges, and final prep
• DAY 4: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 – Dress rehearsal, Showcase performance and judging

(Travel days will occur before Day 1 and after Day 4, on 6/13June 16 and June 226/18 so composers and librettists should be available June 166/13 to June 226/18 to participate.)

What are your plans for community participation and digital distribution?

We invite the community to enjoy the performances/competition on Saturday, June 21. The Atlanta Opera Film Studio will capture aspects of the preparation and the competition showcase. Specific use of the video and audio recordings will be determined by the needs of The Atlanta Opera.