From short summer intensive courses through to fully staffed departments such as the renowned Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artist Programme, each Young Artist Program is unique in offering opportunities and expertise to raise performers and other operatic practitioners to the next level of their careers and to ensure our thrilling art form continues to flourish at the highest level.

Opera Queensland’s Young Artist Program supports and nurtures future generations of talented performers who are vital for the art form to flourish, such as our 2020 Young Artist, Rebecca Cassidy.

The revival of our Young Artist Program in 2020 was made possible through a bequest from two extraordinary patrons of Opera Queensland, Lois Schultz and June Wheeler. Together, they had a vision to create a program that would provide emerging artists with a springboard into a highly successful career.

This initiative offers professional artists at the beginning of their careers a program of exceptional training and development activities including individual coaching, stagecraft technique, language tuition and involvement in Opera Queensland’s main stage productions, community and corporate engagement events.

Hailing from Townsville, soprano Rebecca Cassidy completed her Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU). Her performances include the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Ann Trulove from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus  by Johann Strauss II. In addition to these operatic roles, Rebecca’s concert, oratorio and symphonic repertoire includes  Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Handel’s Saul, Britten’s War Requiem  and Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs. 

Rebecca has been the recipient of awards including QCGU’s Wagner Prize, Trinity College London Exhibition Award and the Alton Budd Memorial Scholarship. 

As Opera Queensland’s Young Artist in 2020, Rebecca is undertaking specialised music, language and stagecraft tuition, performing in concerts, and most significantly studied the role of Isolde in Tristan und Isolde. 

 Most recently, Rebecca featured in Opera Queensland’s n2019 touring production Songs To Die For, directed by Patrick Nolan.