Pianist Fellowship

Central City Opera - Pianist Fellowship (Festival Music Staff)

Application Deadline: March 7, 2025

Reports to: Head of Music

Classification: Fellowship

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 am-10:30 pm (frequent evenings and weekends); Monday is a dark day

Company

Founded in 1932, Central City Opera (CCO) is the fifth oldest professional opera company in the country and is renowned for exquisite world-class productions, a robust young artist training program, creative education activities, and community engagement. Our annual summer opera festival takes place at 8,500 feet above sea level in the Colorado mountain town of Central City, only 35 miles west of Denver, where the company owns and maintains 28 Victorian-era properties, including the intimate 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878.

The Vision and Mission of CCO includes using the power of the arts and historic preservation to enhance lives and communities while enriching the lives and communities of those we serve and providing a welcoming, inclusive environment of beauty and meaning.

Central City Opera’s 2025 season features mainstage productions of Rossini’s THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Vrebalov & Brevoort’s THE KNOCK, and Mary Rodgers’ ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.

Position Summary:

The Pianist Fellow works under the supervision of the Head of Music and alongside the music staff. Primary assignments will include working closely with members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program in training classes, auxiliary programming, and mainstage rehearsals as assigned. The Pianist Fellow will coach and perform “Short Works” opera scenes with BSFATP Studio Artists and may be assigned a “Lunch and a Song” recital to coach, prepare, and perform. Additional assignments include attending services and meetings integral to music staff as assigned and running supertitles for up to two mainstage performances.  

Responsibilities Include:

• Playing for classes, coachings, and auxiliary programming for members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program (BSFATP) as assigned.
• Playing for mainstage rehearsals as assigned.
• Taking music notes as assigned.
• Preparing supertitles music scores collaboration with stage management.
• Attending services and meetings integral to music staff as assigned and as available for educational purposes.
•  Leading coachings, rehearsals, and runs with covers as assigned and appropriate.
• Performing in “Short Works” opera scenes with BSFATP Studio Artists as assigned.
• Running supertitles for up to two mainstage productions.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in collaborative piano or conducting, or related field
• Professional certificate and/or 2 years of related work experience preferred;
• Knowledge of opera, theater, music, and/or the performing arts strongly preferred;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong computer skills, including MS PowerPoint and music reading/writing software

Skills & Abilities:

• High level of technical and musical pianistic ability;
• Ability to follow a conductor and lead a musical rehearsal;
• Developing knowledge of operatic repertoire, diction, and standard opera performance languages;
• Clear ability to communicate with and provide constructive feedback;
• Meticulous attention to detail;
• Strong foundation in music theory;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to function in a collaborative environment while also working independently;
• High level of intercultural competence and experience working with diverse communities;
• Proactively seeks opportunities to connect resources, people and organizations with Central City Opera.

Benefits:

The Pianist Fellow is a training position and educational opportunity ineligible for benefits.

To Apply for this position:

Please submit cover letter, resume, and links to two videos of your work to music@centralcityopera.org and mozakigraves@centralcityopera.org.

Applications may also be completed and submitted on Central City Opera’s website. Materials are due no later than March 7, 2025. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

CCO is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work environment. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values and we are currently working to expand our capacities in these areas with company-wide understanding that this is an ongoing process that must be embedded into the fabric of the organization. We encourage candidates who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ , otherwise-abled, and other underrepresented identities to apply. All applications will receive consideration for employment.

Salary : $4,000