INTERNSHIP Contact:

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Maria Schlafly, Company Administrator
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
P.O. Box 191910
St. Louis, MO 63119-7910
Office: 314-963-4234
Fax: 314-961-7463
mschlafly@opera-stl.org

ABOUT OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS
Opera Theatre is known internationally for outstanding productions accompanied by members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Four operas are presented in a festival season in May and June at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University. Distinguished members of the music press review Opera Theatre's season every year, including critics from the London Financial Times, the London Sunday Times, Berlin's Opernwelt, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Last year visitors from 42 states and 9 countries traveled to St. Louis for the season. In May 2000 Opera Theatre was one of 28 "exemplary arts organizations" in the country chosen by the Ford Foundation for a major grant initiative, and in June 2003 Opera Theatre hosted OPERA America's national conference.
Since its founding in 1976, Opera Theatre has been known for unconventional repertory. OTSL has presented eleven world and nineteen American premieres - perhaps the highest percentage (27%) of new work in the repertory of any US company. All productions are sung in English, in a small (987-seat) theater which gives OTSL productions a tremendous dramatic impact. The company is also known as a showcase for the very best American talent; each year the roster at the Metropolitan Opera includes more than sixty artists who appeared with OTSL early in their careers. Education programs presented throughout the year reach over 12,000 students and adults.
ABOUT OTSL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
The company is known as a center for training young professionals in all aspects of opera. Several current Opera Theatre staff members started as OTSL interns, and other graduates of the administrative internship program are working at arts organizations around the country, including the Santa Fe Opera and OPERA America. General Director Charles MacKay began his arts management career in a variety of seasonal positions at the Santa Fe Opera.
Opera Theatre internships offer the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people both in and beyond the company. A basic familiarity with (and enthusiasm about) opera and classical music is a great help, because it cuts down the amount of material interns must assimilate and adds greatly to interns' enjoyment of the activities offered during the season. Interns will participate in seminars with members of our administrative, artistic, and music staff, and are invited to attend additional lectures, recitals, and rehearsals as their schedules permit.
GUIDELINES
  • All internships are full-time, paid positions. Starting dates vary (see job descriptions), and some positions offer part-time work in March or April. Hours may include some nights and weekends.
  • The majority of our interns are college students or recent college graduates, but any qualified applicants interested in pursuing a career in arts management will be considered.
  • Housing is not included. Short-term options are limited and may be prohibitively expensive.
  • Positions will be filled starting in March. There is no formal application deadline, but it's advisable to send in your materials as soon as possible.
  • To apply, please send a resume, references, and cover letter to Maria Schlafly at the above contact information. Please indicate which internship interests you the most and when you might be available for an interview in St. Louis.
Development Intern
Dates of employment: May 1 - June 30 (part-time work in April possible)
Works with: Development Department
The Development Intern assists with Opera Theatre's season events, which include approximately 50-60 dinners and receptions for patrons, as well as a gala benefit. Responsibilities include organizing invitation mailings, tracking responses, updating event attendee lists, event set-up and clean-up, and volunteer management. This position is very detail-oriented and requires good organizational skills. Event management experience is helpful but not required. Word processing and spreadsheet literacy is required. The Development Intern will be trained in Tessitura, Opera Theatre's development and box office software. This position requires a self-motivated individual, able to interact with donors, volunteers, and staff in a range of professional and social situations.
Patron Services Intern
Dates of employment: May 1 - June 30, (part-time work in April possible)
Works with: General Director's Office, Development Department, Artistic Department, Communications Department
The Patron Services Intern makes arrangements for Opera Theatre's VIPs, both in-town patrons and out-of-town patrons, artists, critics, and agents. Responsibilities include organizing transportation, accommodations, and welcome baskets, as well as helping with season events, which include approximately 50-60 dinners and receptions as well as a gala benefit. Hours can be long, since many season events are during the evening. This position is very detail-oriented and requires good organizational skills, as well as word processing and spreadsheet literacy. This position requires a self-motivated individual, able to interact with donors, volunteers, and staff in a range of professional and social situations. An interest in opera and classical music is helpful. The Patron Services intern must have his/her own transportation (company mileage is reimbursed) and a good driving record.
Public Relations/Marketing Intern
Dates of employment: Mid May - End of June
Works with: Director of Communications, Director of Operations and Audience Development
The PR/Marketing department offers an internship for someone with very strong writing and organizing skills. This can be a wonderful experience for a quick learner and willing worker who can be flexible about hours and duties, work independently on several projects at once, and tolerate working at close quarters in a small office as a member of the OTSL team. An important responsibility of the PR/Marketing intern is organizing and captioning the digital images which will be sent out to press during the season and serve as a permanent archive for the company. Other assignments can vary from sitting in on rehearsals (to identify singers and staff) to assisting with mailings to transporting visiting critics. The PR/Marketing intern is sometimes called on to help coordinate on-site media events and to work with the Development Department on dinners and receptions. The PR/Marketing intern must have his/her own transportation (mileage for company errands is reimbursed) and must be willing to work some evenings and weekends.
Business Intern
Dates of employment: Mid-April (if possible, hours flexible) - End of June
Works with: Director of Finance, Senior Accountant, Accounting Clerk
The Business Intern must be accurate and detail-oriented and have the ability to deal solicitously with the public and co-workers. Strong spreadsheet and word-processing skills are essential, and a background in intermediate accounting is required. The candidate's work habits should be project-oriented, not time-oriented. Duties include but are not limited to cash reconciliation and deposits, generation of income reports for concessions and front-of-house activities, analysis of ticket sales, accounts payable and payroll assistance, and data entry. The Business Intern will represent the business office at 10 to 15 main season performances (afternoons, evenings, and some weekends from mid-May through the end of June). The position requires that the candidate have his/her own car (mileage for company errands is reimbursed).
Photography Intern
Dates of employment: Early May - End of June
Works with: OTSL photographer Ken Howard
Opera Theatre's photography internship offers an invaluable opportunity for a photography student to work with internationally-known theater/opera photographer Ken Howard during the fast-paced environment of a festival opera season. The position requires a familiarity with basic photographic techniques, as well as knowledge of scanning equipment and Photoshop. Additional training on specific equipment will be provided as needed.
The photo intern will assist Ken Howard in many areas, such as shooting rehearsals and special events, processing film, working with images in Photoshop, and filling artists' photo orders. Opera Theatre's festival schedule places many tight deadlines on the photography department, so the photo intern must be able remain calm under pressure and must be willing to work long and irregular hours when needed. The darkroom is neither spacious nor luxurious, so flexibility and a sense of humor are absolutely key.
Education Intern
Dates of employment: Late April - End of June
Works with: Education Department
The Education Intern will perform administrative duties that support the education department's season activities for young people and adults. This individual will work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, artists, students, teachers and constituents, assisting with approximately eight educational programs including Artists-in-Training College Retreat, Spring Training, A Little Lunch Music, Spotlight on Opera, Dress Rehearsals, Opera from the Wings, Music!Words!Opera! Festival Camp for Kids, Music!Words!Opera! Teacher Training Workshops and other miscellaneous seasonal activities.
The ideal candidate should be working toward a bachelor's degree in music, theater, arts management and/or education. Extraordinary attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, good people skills and excellent oral and written skills are a must. Previous leadership experience in coordinating and/or implementing programs is helpful, and proficiency in word processing necessary. Knowledge of singing and opera repertoire a plus.