About Us

Founded in 1988 by Bill Doherty and a dedicated group of opera lovers in the Central FL area, the Central Florida Light Opera (CFLO) was organized. The main focus of the company was to produce Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and other light opera works.

However, by 1991 the singers had developed an interest and desire to perform grand opera and other musical concerts. This shift in focus allowed Mr. Doherty and the newly named Central Florida Lyric Opera a chance to do something more than present light opera productions.

Knowing how hard it was for singers just starting in their careers to receive opportunities to perform leading roles in opera, he wanted to provide not only a performance outlet for young singers, but also a fertile training ground where they could develop and hone their skills. Thus began the company's Resident Artist Training Program.

Singers in the program performed in the operatic productions and concerts, focusing on training and development through:

• Private voice lessons and coachings
• Group classes in language
• Stage movement and presentation

The company's productions were cast primarily from members of the Resident Artist Training Program. Professional singers from outside the company were only hired when there was not a member of the Training Program available to perform a certain role.

As the years progressed so did the caliber of talent involved with the training program. Our Resident Artist Training Program began attracting singers from all over the United States and Europe. Many of our Resident Artists gained national and international attention by:

• Winning regional, national and international vocal competitions
• Singing with regional opera companies
• Performing leading roles both on Broadway and with national tours of Broadway productions

There is a long list of successful graduates.

With increasing performance and study opportunities overseas, and a desire to offer performances of an operatic and non-operatic nature to its audiences, Maestro Doherty and members of the Board of Directors of Central Florida Lyric Opera decided to expand the company, establishing the International Opera Center of America - attracting performers, teachers, coaches and musicians from all over the United States and Europe and bringing its outstanding musical programs to audiences all over the world.

And we're not finished growing! Our goal is to continue expanding our Resident Artist Training Program to offer more and more performance opportunities for our talented performers both here in the United States and abroad and to expand our audiences both locally and abroad.

• The Resident Artist Training Program is designed for:

  • Talented, career-oriented singing artists
  • Between the ages of 18 and 35
  • Desiring experience and advanced training in the vocal arts

  Program members attend classes in:

  • Voice
  • Stage presentation
  • Languages

  They also participate in all CFLO's regularly scheduled performances.

  Additionally, they attend the annual Master Classes, conducted by:

  • Nationally known teachers, coaches, and singers
  • Internationally known teachers, coaches, and singers

Responsibilities

When you accept membership in one of the CFLO's Training Programs, your responsibilities include:

• Singing roles or in the chorus for the Mainstage opera productions as you are cast.
• Attendance at all scheduled classes and rehearsals for which you are called.
• Attendance at all concerts and performances for which you are cast.
• Being available to support CFLO in various ways including, but not limited to, singing paid and/or unpaid promotional appearances, doing volunteer work in the office, and helping with props, costumes or set construction, etc.
• Helping to keep the offices and rehearsal/performance spaces tidy.
• Working your hardest to develop your own talent.
• Supporting your colleagues in their development.
• Working your hardest to support the efforts of CFLO.

Member Entitlements

Members of the Resident Artist Training program are entitled to:

• Attend all CFLO rehearsals, classes, and performances.
• First consideration in casting for CFLO opera productions.
• Regular private voice lessons and coachings with Artistic Director/Conductor, Bill Doherty and/or with any visiting teachers as well as your regular assigned teacher.

Attendance Policy

Every member of the cast and chorus for every production is required to be available for all rehearsals, classes, and performances. The Central Florida Lyric Opera does not always observe school or religious holidays. Therefore, note carefully the rehearsal schedules as they are given to you. CFLO is an ensemble company and releases from scheduled rehearsals, classes, and performances are infrequently granted for any reason. Please check the schedule and plan accordingly.

You will do very well as a member of CFLO's Training Programs if you:

• Realize that singing professionally is a great discipline, which requires constant attention to technique and expressive detail.
• Are willing to learn new ideas and are always striving to grow to reach your potential.
• Appreciate constructive criticism from professionals who are interested in helping you.
• Have great respect for the fine art of singing and for the many great artists who have made careers singing professionally throughout history.
• Are interested, excited and honored to meet and work with legendary singers who have had wonderful performing careers and wish to obtain invaluable ideas, information, and training from them.
• Are interested in singing and performing in operas and realize the value of performing smaller roles and singing in the chorus as well as in the leading roles.
• Are excited to gain a practical working knowledge of other aspects of opera production such as costume design, set construction, and administration.
• Enjoy being busy and love to work with others who take their art seriously.
• Enjoy other people and their talents and frequently find things to learn and respect in other singers— even those who you may consider less talented that yourself.
• Are generally organized.
• Always conduct yourself professionally even in potentially stressful situations.
• Are looking for a "home-base" in an enthusiastic and artistically oriented community where there are others who are equally talented and who are supportive of you and your future success as a performing artist.

Classes

Repertoire workshop classes are generally held as noted on the master schedule. During production periods and Master Class workshop periods, private and group classes are sometimes suspended in lieu of rehearsals/workshops etc. Classwork consists of scene and aria preparation with preference given to upcoming production repertoire.

Singers should be prepared at each class with a warm-up selection followed by an aria or scene. All music should be memorized.

When classes have been suspended because of production rehearsals etc, all resident artists are encouraged to attend rehearsals even if you are not called for that rehearsal. A great deal of knowledge can be acquired by watching the rehearsal process.

Tuition

The Central Florida Lyric Opera's Training Programs are tuition-free.

Singers are required to pay for their private lessons and coachings only. For members of the Resident Artist Training Program, lessons and coachings cost approximately $70-$100 per lesson.

Although the training programs are tuition-free, each member of the training program is responsible for donating 20 hours per season to help in the office. These service hours may be done in the following ways:

• In the administrative office (i.e. answering the phone, helping with mailings, running errands, etc.)
• Helping with the set, costumes, or props.
• Other additional tasks as assigned by the staff.