Opera coaching, master
Pursue studies in a master’s programme aimed at pianists who aspire to contribute to opera productions and collaborate with singers and orchestra musicians.
Why study here?
Come and study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world. As a master’s student in opera coaching, you will engage in close-knit cooperation with master’s students of opera. Upon graduation, you will be a versatile professional in opera music and be able to take responsibility for large-scale music coaching projects and piano performances.
Content and objective of the programme
The 2.5-year programme consists of opera coaching and production-based work as well as studies in piano, conducting, vocal chamber music and vocal music. You will also complete a thesis project and research studies. During your studies, you will take part in the productions of the opera programme and contribute to the Sibelius Academy’s performances, concert activities, and auditions. The Academy’s opera training produces at least two full-scale opera productions a year and opera coaching students are actively involved in the process.
You can also choose courses organised by the two other Uniarts Helsinki academies and complete joint studies that are available to all students.
New students to opera coaching studies are admitted on an annual basis. Opera coaches have very versatile duties, which is why the entrance examination is multi-faceted and highly demanding in parts. The studies in opera coaching are organised alongside opera studies, which admit new master’s students every other year.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top international professionals as guests on a regular basis.
US pianist, Professor Martin Katz acts as adjunct professor in the opera coaching programme. The programme cooperates actively with the Departments of Vocal Music and Piano.
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Find out more
Student ensembles
2023–2025
- Sopranos: Emma Hartikainen, Maija Rautasuo, Leila Saari
- Mezzo soprano: Haven Honermann
- Bass: Martin Iivarinen
- Baritone: Sakari Topi
2021–2023
- Sopranos: Ruut Eleonoora, Marianne Montonen, Emma Mustaniemi, Júlia Pérez Arquillo, Johanna Takalo
- Mezzo sopranos: Ruusu-Maaria Brousseau, Fanny Henn
- Bass baritone: Peter Norris
- Opera coaches: Tuomas Salokangas, Olga Nevalainen
2019–2022
- Sopranos: Iris Candelaria, Manon Gleizes, Maria Turunen, Stella Tähtinen
- Mezzo sopranos: Olivia Kyllönen ja Ruut Mattila
- Tenors: Jasper Leppänen and Tuomas Miettola
- Baritone: Luke Scott
- Opera coaches: Anu Kosonen, Elias Miettinen, Markus Vaara
2017–2019
- Bata Réka, soprano
- Kosonen Anu, opera coach
- Lahti Minna-Leena, soprano
- Lundell Topias, tenor
- McIntosh Rachel, mezzo soprano
- Shaw Isabella, mezzo soprano
- Tikkanen Henri, baritone
- Vaara Markus, opera coaching
- Vänttinen Jussi, baritone
Opera productions (performances in the Sonore Hall of the Helsinki Music Centre)
- 2022 Pulkkis: All the Truths We Cannot See – A Chernobyl Story (world premiere, cooperation project with Thornton School of Music of University of Southern California); Donizetti: Il Campanello; Rossini: La Gazzetta Mozart: The Magic Flute
- 2021 Puccini: Suor Angelica; Mascagni: L’amico Fritz; Sempre, sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2020 Mozart: Così fan tutte; Britten: Albert Herring
- 2019 Händel: Alcina; Offenbach: Soirée Offenbach
- 2018 Mozart: La clemenza di Tito; Britten: The Rape of Lucretia
- 2017: Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Verdi: Falstaff; Sempre, sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2016: Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro; Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel and Rautavaara: The Gift of the Magi
- 2015 Rossini – Il viaggio – The Journey to Brussels; The Face of the Night – an evening of French opera; Sempre sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2014 Mozart: Così fan tutte; Aho: Frida y Diego (world premiere)
- 2013 Rameau: Les Indes Galantes; Strauss: Die Fledermaus
- 2012 Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro; Menotti: The Consul
- 2011 Kortekangas & Baran: One Night Stand (world premiere)
Opera behind the scenes
Opera students write a blog Opera behind the scenes where they share their thoughts on the operas, composers, and their characters before each upcoming premiere.
Student interviews
Target degree and length of study
Master of Music (MMus)
2,5 years
Application period
Next possible time to apply is in January 2025. Studies begin in August 2025.
Application languages
English, Finnish, Swedish
Read more about language skill requirements
Tuition fee
From August 2025, the annual tuition fee is € 12,000 for students who are studying in English and come from outside the EU and EEA countries.
Unit
Sibelius Academy
Ask about applying
Why study here?
Come and study at one of the best performing arts universities in the world. As a master’s student in opera coaching, you will engage in close-knit cooperation with master’s students of opera. Upon graduation, you will be a versatile professional in opera music and be able to take responsibility for large-scale music coaching projects and piano performances.
Content and objective of the programme
The 2.5-year programme consists of opera coaching and production-based work as well as studies in piano, conducting, vocal chamber music and vocal music. You will also complete a thesis project and research studies. During your studies, you will take part in the productions of the opera programme and contribute to the Sibelius Academy’s performances, concert activities, and auditions. The Academy’s opera training produces at least two full-scale opera productions a year and opera coaching students are actively involved in the process.
You can also choose courses organised by the two other Uniarts Helsinki academies and complete joint studies that are available to all students.
New students to opera coaching studies are admitted on an annual basis. Opera coaches have very versatile duties, which is why the entrance examination is multi-faceted and highly demanding in parts. The studies in opera coaching are organised alongside opera studies, which admit new master’s students every other year.
Teachers
Our teachers are some of the best experts in their respective fields. In addition to the permanent teaching staff, the programme welcomes top international professionals as guests on a regular basis.
US pianist, Professor Martin Katz acts as adjunct professor in the opera coaching programme. The programme cooperates actively with the Departments of Vocal Music and Piano.
Doctoral studies
You can complete a licentiate and a doctoral degree at Uniarts Helsinki as a third-cycle degree. After graduating with a master’s degree, you can apply for doctoral studies in music and specialise in research-oriented, artistic or applied doctoral studies.
Find out more
Student ensembles
2023–2025
- Sopranos: Emma Hartikainen, Maija Rautasuo, Leila Saari
- Mezzo soprano: Haven Honermann
- Bass: Martin Iivarinen
- Baritone: Sakari Topi
2021–2023
- Sopranos: Ruut Eleonoora, Marianne Montonen, Emma Mustaniemi, Júlia Pérez Arquillo, Johanna Takalo
- Mezzo sopranos: Ruusu-Maaria Brousseau, Fanny Henn
- Bass baritone: Peter Norris
- Opera coaches: Tuomas Salokangas, Olga Nevalainen
2019–2022
- Sopranos: Iris Candelaria, Manon Gleizes, Maria Turunen, Stella Tähtinen
- Mezzo sopranos: Olivia Kyllönen ja Ruut Mattila
- Tenors: Jasper Leppänen and Tuomas Miettola
- Baritone: Luke Scott
- Opera coaches: Anu Kosonen, Elias Miettinen, Markus Vaara
2017–2019
- Bata Réka, soprano
- Kosonen Anu, opera coach
- Lahti Minna-Leena, soprano
- Lundell Topias, tenor
- McIntosh Rachel, mezzo soprano
- Shaw Isabella, mezzo soprano
- Tikkanen Henri, baritone
- Vaara Markus, opera coaching
- Vänttinen Jussi, baritone
Opera productions (performances in the Sonore Hall of the Helsinki Music Centre)
- 2022 Pulkkis: All the Truths We Cannot See – A Chernobyl Story (world premiere, cooperation project with Thornton School of Music of University of Southern California); Donizetti: Il Campanello; Rossini: La Gazzetta Mozart: The Magic Flute
- 2021 Puccini: Suor Angelica; Mascagni: L’amico Fritz; Sempre, sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2020 Mozart: Così fan tutte; Britten: Albert Herring
- 2019 Händel: Alcina; Offenbach: Soirée Offenbach
- 2018 Mozart: La clemenza di Tito; Britten: The Rape of Lucretia
- 2017: Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Verdi: Falstaff; Sempre, sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2016: Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro; Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel and Rautavaara: The Gift of the Magi
- 2015 Rossini – Il viaggio – The Journey to Brussels; The Face of the Night – an evening of French opera; Sempre sempre! Opera scenes and arias
- 2014 Mozart: Così fan tutte; Aho: Frida y Diego (world premiere)
- 2013 Rameau: Les Indes Galantes; Strauss: Die Fledermaus
- 2012 Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro; Menotti: The Consul
- 2011 Kortekangas & Baran: One Night Stand (world premiere)
Opera behind the scenes
Opera students write a blog Opera behind the scenes where they share their thoughts on the operas, composers, and their characters before each upcoming premiere.