CUOS: Cambridge University Opera Society

CUOS: Cambridge University Opera Society Producing and supporting world-class student opera for over 100 years.​ Today, CUOS still exists to facilitate student productions in Cambridge.

Cambridge University Opera Society is the university's leading operatic society with a rich and exciting history spanning over 60 years. Founded through the initiative of Benjamin Britten, Rafael Kubelik, William Walton and Georg Solti, among others, CUOS continues to organise and encourage operatic activities within the university. As such, it has helped to launch the careers of distinguished alumni including Mark Elder, David Atherton, Michael Chance, Andrew Kennedy and Alan Clayton. CUOS has also been host of various contemporary opera productions, some of which it has premiered in the UK. We are open to applications throughout the year and will consider all applications for funding and support. Like our page today to receive updates on forthcoming exciting CUOS events.

🧚 Auditions are open for Purcell’s The Fairy Queen 🧚Cambridge University Opera Society, in collaboration with the Centre...
22/09/2026

🧚 Auditions are open for Purcell’s The Fairy Queen 🧚

Cambridge University Opera Society, in collaboration with the Centre for Music Performance Cambridge University Centre for Music Performance, is thrilled to announce open auditions for our Lent Term production — directed by RAM Head of Acting David Antrobus (stage) and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment leader Maggie Faultless (music).

Weaving Purcell’s masques with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this ambitious production brings together singers, actors and dancers with the University Collegium Musicum — working alongside leading professionals including vocal coach Nicholas Mulroy and continuo specialist Chris Bucknall.

🎭 We’re casting soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists for roles including First & Second Woman, the Fairies, Naiad, Night/Spring, Summer, Winter, Phoebus, H***n, the Drunken Poet and more — plus speaking roles (Titania, Oberon, Helena, Hermia, Demetrius, Lysander, Bottom) offered to singers. Puck is an acting-only role.

We’re also looking for production team members: Designer (Props & Costumes), Technical Director (Lighting & Projection), Assistant Stage Manager and Assistant Musical Director.

📅 Auditions: Monday 19 October 2026
📍 Lecture Theatre, St John’s College, Old Divinity School

Prepare two contrasting solos (max 4 mins each, ideally different periods/languages) — bonus points for a Fairy Queen movement! Got a party trick — juggling, dance, movement? Bring it along, it might just end up on stage.

Performances: 25 & 27 Feb 2027 at West Road Concert Hall, and 26 Feb 2027 at Girton College Great Hall.

Full details on our Linktree / the CMP website (link in bio).

If you’d have any questions, please contact James Gooding at [email protected] and Florence Price at [email protected]

We can’t wait to see you there! ✨

🌟CALLING ALL COMPOSERS AND LIBRETTISTS 🌟Applications are now open for CUOS Shorts 2027 Last year brought excellent origi...
05/09/2026

🌟CALLING ALL COMPOSERS AND LIBRETTISTS 🌟

Applications are now open for CUOS Shorts 2027

Last year brought excellent original operas by Eoin Jenkins, Zane Soonawalla, and George Akka. Now, we're on the lookout for Cambridge student composers and librettists to write the next set of brilliant shows!

This is a chance to showcase your composition skills, collaborate with fellow student creatives, and see your work premiered in one of the atmospheric chapels.

The deadline for applications is the 30th October (NB: you do not need to have written your opera by this date!). Visit the link in our bio for more information and access to the application pack.

📆 12th-13th March 2027 (8pm)
📄 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jjset9mFKbPyYEP3TTQjPSEcbU6eWIcr?usp=drive_link

Excited for the 2026-27 academic term?! ☀You can kickstart your journey with CUOS by applying for some of the exciting p...
21/08/2026

Excited for the 2026-27 academic term?! ☀

You can kickstart your journey with CUOS by applying for some of the exciting projects we have planned!

Indian Classical Dancers Needed for our production of Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen' 🌟

Michaelmas Show Applications 🎼

Our new Répétiteur position to work alongside all the incredible musicians within the society 🎹

All links to the application packs can be found in our linktree. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our President, James, at [email protected]

Cambridge University Opera Society sends congrats on your A Level results! If you are starting Cambridge in October plea...
18/08/2026

Cambridge University Opera Society sends congrats on your A Level results! If you are starting Cambridge in October please don't hesitate to reach out to James our CUOS President ([email protected]) in advance of Freshers Fair. We'd love to hear from you!

🎭 CUOS Michaelmas Show 2026 - Applications Open! 🎭Got a vision for an opera you'd love to stage? The Michaelmas Show giv...
24/07/2026

🎭 CUOS Michaelmas Show 2026 - Applications Open! 🎭

Got a vision for an opera you'd love to stage? The Michaelmas Show gives you full creative freedom to choose your own show and venue - past productions have ranged from Handel and Purcell to hidden gems and contemporary works.

Pitch as a team with a Director, Musical Director, Producer and Technical Director, and bring your show to life on 27th–28th November 🎶

📩 Applications: full pitch as PDF to [email protected]
⏰ Deadline: 5pm, Sunday 30th August 2026

🔗 Full application info in our Linktree — link in bio!

🎹 CUOS is looking for a Répétiteur for 2026-27! 🎹A brilliant opportunity for pianists and accompanists to get hands-on e...
20/07/2026

🎹 CUOS is looking for a Répétiteur for 2026-27! 🎹

A brilliant opportunity for pianists and accompanists to get hands-on experience at the heart of opera production. You'll accompany singers in rehearsals, work with student conductors, and collaborate with professional mentors at guest workshops and masterclasses across the year's projects.

📩 Applications: musical CV + 300-word statement + short performance video to [email protected]
⏰ Deadline: 7th September

🔗 Full pack in our Linktree — link in bio!

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27CUOS PRESIDENT: James GoodingJames is a bass whose most memorable operatic experience was seei...
15/07/2026

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27

CUOS PRESIDENT: James Gooding

James is a bass whose most memorable operatic experience was seeing Bizet's Carmen at the Bristol Hippodrome, where he first fell in love with opera!

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27

VICE PRESIDENT: Florence Price

Florence is a Soprano whose most memorable operatic experience was seeing Götterdämmerung as a child and munching on fruit pastels to keep up energy levels for the four hour lock-in!

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27

ENRICHMENT OFFICER: Eve Doyle

Eve is an alto who recently sang Frau Reich in the CUOS production of the Merry Wives of Windsor!

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Adrianna Forbes-Dorant

Adrianna is an alto whose most memorable musical experience was playing the role of Flora in Britten's The Turn of the Screw in Garsington Opera!

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2026-27

PUBLICITY OFFICER: Toby Elms

Toby's most memorable musical experience was seeing Verdi's Requiem conducted by Riccardo Muti in 2025!

We're delighted to announce that James Gooding will be CUOS' President for 2026-7! James is a current MPhil specialising...
29/05/2026

We're delighted to announce that James Gooding will be CUOS' President for 2026-7! James is a current MPhil specialising in New Zealand choral music at St John's College, and will be joining the Gents as a Choral Graduate next academic year. He has recently performed the role of Lawrence Bragg in CUOS' Easter Term Show, 'Rosalind', and has been heavily involved with the Cambridge music scene throughout the year. We look forward to having him on board, for what promises to be another exciting season of Cambridge opera. 🎼

‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ – Eoin Jenkins 🚷Here are some photos from our third and final opera of CUOS Shorts 2026...
14/03/2026

‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ – Eoin Jenkins 🚷

Here are some photos from our third and final opera of CUOS Shorts 2026: a haunting biblical parable about excessive greed, based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy. Come along at 8pm to discover why you should think twice before bargaining with the Devil…

Photographs courtesy of the wonderful !

‘The Second Death’ – Zane Soonawalla ⚰️Here are a few snaps from the first of our CUOS Shorts 2026: a tense psychologica...
14/03/2026

‘The Second Death’ – Zane Soonawalla ⚰️

Here are a few snaps from the first of our CUOS Shorts 2026: a tense psychological drama arising from a tumultuous funeral. Come along at 8pm to find out why these members of the congregation are so uneasy…

Photographs courtesy of the wonderful !

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