The camp is open to everyone aged 7 to 70+ Whether you’re a complete beginner, a seasoned professional, or anywhere in between, there’s a place for you here. No prior experience is necessary*. Participants can explore singing (solo or choir), playing an instrument, dancing, acting, fine arts, and much more. Each participant will be register in a Major (Singing, Orchestra*, and Fine Arts) and a Minor (Fine Arts, Dancing/Singing/Acting, and Arts Administration). Both Major and Minor will be confirmed at total discretion of the Bloomington Opera Camp™ faculty in the first 2 days of the camp. *The unique Major that require a previous experience is Orchestra. Because orchestra majors will be in scene for 45 to 50 minutes in the Opera Premiere, the registration for Orchestra Major is open from beginner participants with a minimum skill of reading music and playing their instrument by themselves (without extra help).

That’s absolutely fine! The camp is designed for all skill levels, and our experienced instructors will help you confirming your Major and Minor within the first two days and guide every step of the way. Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive space for everyone to discover and develop their artistic potential. (Review FQA 1 for more info).

Yes! Professional artists are welcome to participate too!! In addition, professional artists may apply for the Bloomington Opera Camp™ Fellowships (BOC Fellowships), which provide full tuition coverage and a stipend for participation in the Opera Camp™. To be eligible, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in their area of expertise and either have a master's degree or be currently pursuing one in their same area of expertise. BOC Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process that includes a comprehensive application*, submission of required materials, and nominations** from Bloomington Opera Camp™ allied institutions. Please note that applying for a BOC Fellowship does not guarantee selection. To secure a guaranteed spot at the Bloomington Opera Camp™, we encourage professional artists to register as paying participants (completing Checkout) while also submitting Fellowship application materials as a backup (all done in the same application). If selected as a Fellow, registration fees will be reimbursed. However, if not selected, no refunds will be issued, as paid registrations secure and reserve a spot among the 120 available participants. *Please fill out the full Registration on the top of this page, and follow the steps as a Professional Artists uploading the requested materials there. No need to checkout at the end of the registration process if only applying for the BOC Fellowship. **A nomination is not a mandatory requirement for selection as a BOC Fellow. However, applying with one or more nominations increases your chances of being selected, as it demonstrates the value of your work, with organizations backing you, acknowledging your contributions, and confirming your engagement with their communities. To request a nomination, you should contact one or more allied entities and formally request their endorsement. Each institution has up to 12 nomination slots, so it is beneficial to collaborate with them, showcase your work, and establish a relationship that makes them comfortable supporting your application.

Yes! The camp schedule is flexible enough to accommodate participants with other commitments (as long as their level, flexibility and commitment to good quality performance is clear and the participants communicate that in advance). The sessions run on the first and second week of summer school vacations, with weekday programs (2 PM–7 PM) and Saturday sessions (10:30 AM–4:30 PM). You can enjoy this enriching experience without disrupting your daily life. *No adjustment of registration fees for less training hours or adjusted camp participations are allowed. All Artists will pay the same amount no matter their unique schedule needs.

Participants have the exceptional opportunity to BECOME ARTISTS and experience producing and performing opera, an experience historically reserved ONLY for FEW professionals. In addition, the registration fee covers all camp activities (more than 60 hours of high-level, personalized, professional instruction in the performing arts), all materials for the camp (including scores), the participation on the Pre-Production meetings (more info in question 12), and participation AS ARTISTS in the opera production El Imperio de la Luz – The Empire of Light. This is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with a diverse, multigenerational, multilingual, and international community of artists.

Registering is simple! Just click the “Register Here and Reserve your Spotlight" button on the top of this page, follow the steps to fill out the online form, click submit, and then complete checkout to secure your spot. If you have any questions or face technical issues, our team is ready to assist via live chat, email ( solutions@performingartslab.com ), or phone ( +1 626 6204391) during hour business hours (Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm). We recommend you to not wait too long—spots for the Bloomington Opera Camp™ are limited, and they fill up fast!

No, we don't provide food. We encourage participants to bring their own snacks for the two breaks on weekdays and a lunch on Saturday.

For 2026, the Bloomington Opera Camp™ does not offer accommodation or a meal plan as part of its program. (Only selected BOC Fellows will receive housing as part of their official fellowship benefits, if needed.) However, for non-local paying participants, we have contacted and selected a range of hotels and Airbnb providers (third parties) in Bloomington, IN, to assist registered participants of the Bloomington Opera Camp™ in finding accommodations during their stay. Accommodation prices range from $750 for single occupancy at an Airbnb to $4,000+ for single hotel accommodations (price ranges and availability may vary, as they are managed by third parties). The selected accommodations are within a 10-minute drive from Harmony School, the camp’s venue, and, depending on availability, can accommodate large groups (up to 10 people). Since these services are not officially provided by the Bloomington Opera Camp™ and are handled by third parties, we cannot guarantee specific details. However, if you (or your group) register for the Bloomington Opera Camp™ and are interested in these accommodation options, you will have the opportunity to indicate your interest during the online registration process. Our team will then follow up to connect you with the housing options we have reviewed.

Because of the unique experience that the Opera Camp™ offers to artists of all levels, we know many international participants are interested in joining. Additionally, since the Bloomington Opera Camp™ takes place in Bloomington, IN—home to the prestigious IU - Jacobs School of Music, renowned as the best university for opera studies in the world— and the Bloomington Opera Camp™ is led by alumni of that institution, we anticipate strong interest from international students. However, the Bloomington Opera Camp™ does not facilitate visas for international participants. Upon completing the registration process, if requested, we can provide an official invitation letter to support your visa application or entry to the United States. But, participants are solely responsible for managing their own visa arrangements and ensuring they meet the requirements for travel. It is also important to note that no cancellations or refunds of the registration fee will be possible under any circumstances, including failure to obtain a visa or entry approval to the United States. Therefore, we strongly encourage international participants to resolve all visa and travels related matters before registering.

When selecting your Major and Minor for the Opera Camp™, it's important to understand their roles: Major: This is your main focus during the camp and will be the official role you take on for the full Production and Performance. You should choose the Major where you have the most experience, whether it's Singing (Soloist or Choir), Orchestra (All Instruments), or Fine Arts (for Stage and Costume Design) . If you don’t have prior experience in any of these areas, that’s completely fine! The faculty will guide you in finding the right fit, and you can still choose any Major that interests you, except for Orchestra, where minimum experience is required (please refer to question 1 for further details). Minor: This is an opportunity for you to explore other artistic fields, collaborate with others, and try out different roles within the Opera Camp™. You can select a Minor based on what intrigues you the most. It’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone and learn from other disciplines. Remember, the faculty will ensure that all participants are in the right Major and Minor, and if necessary (totally at the discretion of the faculty), adjustments will be made within the first days of the Opera Camp™ to ensure everyone has a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. Choose based on what feels best for you, and trust that the faculty will help guide your experience!

To be considered for a soloist role in the opera, every singer must register in the Singing Major (either Choir or Soloists). By default, all singers are part of the Opera Choir. On the first day of the camp, singers interested in becoming one of the seven soloists will audition for the Music Director and Stage Director. The selection of soloists will be based on casting criteria defined during pre-production meetings. These meetings involve input from the community and allied institutions, ensuring a thorough and collaborative casting process. More information about these meetings can be found in question 12. It is important to clarify that in opera, becoming a soloist is both an honor and a responsibility. It results from 2% talent, 49% preparation, and 49% a collaborative mindset and humility. Soloist positions are limited, and achieving one requires meeting the specific demands of the role as determined by the casting criteria. By default, every participant registered in the Singing Major is an opera choir singer. Choir participants receive training in vocal technique, acting, dancing, stagecraft, languages, and oral communication. They also gain valuable experience in teamwork and collaboration on stage—key elements in preparing for a soloist role. Only those ready for the responsibility and who possess the characteristics required for the roles, as outlined in the casting criteria, will be selected as soloists. Additionally, please note that registration fees are non-refundable under any circumstances. If a participant initially expressed interest in a soloist role but is not selected, it does not mean they are excluded from the Singing Major. They will remain an integral part of the Opera Choir, as originally intended.

The Pre-Production meetings are designed as a unique experience where the governance of the arts is shared with the communities involved, a crucial element in creating sustainable Performing Arts practices. These meetings provide an opportunity for allied institutions as well as registered participants to actively contribute to and decide on two key aspects of the opera’s governance: The Repertoire: The community will gain an in-depth understanding of the full story, values, and cultures represented in the 2026 Opera, El Imperio de la Luz (The Empire of Light), a Peruvian opera. They will also have the chance to discuss and decide what stories, values, and cultures they would like to highlight for the 2027 and 2028 Opera, which will be a Mexican opera. The Casting: During these meetings, full participants will define the criteria for selecting the soloists for the 2026 Opera. This process involves understanding the technical, musical, and artistic requirements of each role, and having an open, respectful conversation about how these qualities should be reflected in the "voice, body shapes, personalities, faces, skin colors, etc." of the performers who best represent those roles. These meetings aim to involve the entire community in shaping the production, ensuring it reflects diverse perspectives and promotes a collaborative, inclusive approach to performing arts. The Pre-Production meetings will be developed between the end of March and end of April 2026 at some of the allied institutions buildings. The allied institutions and the registered participants will receive more information about the exact days and schedules to be able to participate.

The Bloomington Opera Camp™ is produced by the Bloomington Opera Camp LLC (the unique entity authorized to produce an Opera Camp™ in Bloomington, IN, USA). Maximum and Minimum Number of Participants: Registration is limited to 120 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage participants to complete registration and payment ASAP to avoid lossing their spot. The Opera Camp requires a minimum of 60 participants to maintain its structure. If less than 60 people registered (by May 1st 2026), changes or cancellation will be decided totally at the discretion of the BOC. Full refunds will provided if Opera Camp is canceled due to insufficient enrollment (Minus payment and refund process third-party fees, which will be fully disclosed upon refund). / Waivers: Participants releases BOC and associated entities from liability during Opera Camp activities. Minors require a parent/guardian waiver, and those turning 18 during camp must sign an additional waiver. / Recording and Photography: No recordings and photos are allowed by participants, parents, allied institutions, or any extra third party. All Participants authorizes BOC officials to develop recordings and photos during Opera Camp activities and agree to give all rights (without any financial compensation) for videos, photos, etc, to Opera Camp™, CommunityOperaScores™ and Performing Arts Laboratory for both non-commercial (internal or promotional) and commercial uses. A set of curated videos and photos will be available for purchase for the general audience as well as participants with special discounts. Since the Opera Camp™ design allows and encourages the collective interaction of all artists, video and photo 'opt-outs' are incredibly difficult (virtually impossible), as they affect the entire experience of other participants. Therefore, to comply with the law, such cases will be discussed privately on a case-by-case basis to figure out options. However, participants MUST contact the Bloomington Opera Camp for evaluation BEFORE completing registration. / Ecological Sustainability: The Opera Camp™ promotes ecological sustainability in the Performing Arts by using recycled materials for stage design. The Opera Camp™ encourages participants' families to contribute materials as a non-mandatory feature, while also encouraging participants to assist with room organization and cleaning. No Cancellation or Reimbursement: No cancellations or refunds are allowed, except if the camp is canceled due to insufficient enrollment. / Majors and Minors: Majors and Minors are confirmed taking participant's interests into account. However, the confirmation of it is at the faculty's discretion for optimal participant growth, and changes to participants majors and minors assignments may occur as part of the camp experience in any moment of it. / Final Aesthetics of the Performance: The Bloomington Opera Camp™ provides general artistic criteria based on the selected opera; however, the final aesthetics of the full production will be entirely determined by the camp participants, primarily those in the Fine Arts Major. By participating, all artists agree to contribute creatively, collaborate on design elements, and adapt to the artistic, technical, and logistical limitations of both the participants and the venue. This includes wearing assigned costumes, using makeup as needed, and embracing the collective artistic vision of the production.