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Young Singers’ Programme

In the autumn of 2022, the Finnish National Opera launched a new programme in support of the professional development of young singers, with the Louise and George Ehrnrooth Foundation as its founding partner. The singers, who are selected for the programme based on applications and an audition, are offered a temporary trainee soloist contract at the Finnish National Opera for one season at a time. They will be featured in Main Stage productions.

The application for the 2025–2026 season of Young singers’ programme has ended.

”Being a successful opera singer requires skills, which you can only learn from experienced, world-class professionals. The Young Singers’ Programme of the Finnish National Opera will be an excellent opportunity to mentor, encourage and inspire young musicians in all the aspects of performing arts.”

– Hannu Lintu, Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet

The Finnish National Opera selected singers for the Young Singers Programme for a fixed-term monthly salaried position for the 2025–2026 season based on auditions.

Singers who participated in the program in previous years performed several roles on the main stage of the Finnish National Opera and appeared in other events. In addition, they received coaching, language training, mentoring and participated in master classes.

“The Young Singers’ Programme at Finnish National Opera is an opportunity for talented singing actors to immerse themselves in a community of expert practice. We offer a bespoke prrogramme of activity built to harness the potential of each participant as artist and communicator. We welcome applications from far and wide.”
-Thomas de Mallet Burgess, Artistic Director of Opera

application for the season 2026-2027 begins in September

The application period for the Young Singers Programme opens on Monday, 29 September 2025. We kindly ask you to submit your application, CV, motivation letter, and video links no later than Friday, 17 October 2025 at 23:55 (EET) via the electronic recruitment system available on the Finnish National Opera and Ballet website: staging.oopperabaletti.fi/en/vacancies

The video must feature freely chosen opera arias accompanied by piano. It should be recorded with a single camera placed in front of the singer, ensuring the singer is fully visible throughout the performance. Post-processing of audio and video is strictly prohibited. Please note that applications without a CV will not be considered.

After the video screening, selected applicants will be invited to an audition, which will take place at the Finnish National Opera in November 2025.

Singers in the season 2025-2026

Tuomas Miettola

Tenor Tuomas Miettola is studying in the opera programme of the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki with Seppo Ruohonen and Aki Alamikkotervo.  

Miettola was awarded the first ever Jorma Hynninen art prize in 2024. In 2023 he won 2nd place in the Voice of the Sea (Havets röst) competition and the Anders Wiklöf Audience Prize. 

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Sarah Zieba

Polish-American mezzo-soprano Sarah Zieba completed a performing arts diploma at Boston University’s School of Music under the guidance of Penelope Bitzas in 2024. Additionally, Zieba has graduated with a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Biochemistry from Northwestern University in Illinois. 

Zieba, who has a particular affinity for concert music, has appeared as a soloist in works such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah, de Falla’s El amor brujo, and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. 

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Jussi Vänttinen

Jussi Vänttinen

Baritone Jussi Vänttinen holds a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy’s opera programme and a Master of Opera from Stockholm’s Operahögskolan. He won the men’s category of the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in early 2019. In September of the same year, he debuted at the Finnish National Opera in the role of Moralès in Bizet’s opera Carmen.

Vänttinen has also performed as a soloist with several Finnish orchestras and has appeared in concerts at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm and the Malmö Opera.

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alumni of the young singers’ program

Season 2024–2025: Elisaveta Rimkevitch, Iris Candelaria, Jussi Vänttinen

Season 2023–2024: Elisaveta Rimkevitch, Iris Candelaria

support young singers’ program

Your donation to the Young Singers’ Program will support the development of opera singers at the start of their professional career.

donate online

Any questions?

For more information about the programme, please contact External Relations Manager Lauri Pokkinen, lauri.pokkinen@opera.fi or Head of Casting Tiina Maija Koskela, tiina-maija.koskela@opera.fi

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