Savonlinna Opera Festival

Assistant Conductor Call 2026

Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland) is launching an open international search for Assistant Conductors (3 vacancies) for the summer 2026 season. We are looking for exceptional young talents with strong musical preparation skills, excellent rehearsal discipline, and a genuine ambition to build a career in opera.

Selected assistant conductors will work closely with the Festival’s principal conductors of each production.

Productions 2026

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Le nozze di Figaro, cond. Andrea Sanguineti
  • Giuseppe Verdi – Nabucco,  cond. Ivan Lopez Reynoso
  • Giacomo Puccini – Madama Butterfly, cond.  Piergiorgio Morandi

Role & Responsibilities

The assistant conductor will:

  • Lead and coach piano rehearsals (vocal & stage rehearsals as assigned)
  • Prepare and support musical rehearsals, coordinate with repetiteurs
  • Follow all orchestra, staging, and technical rehearsals
  • Assist the principal conductor(s) during rehearsals, and if needed, performances
  • Be prepared to conduct selected stage/piano rehearsals if required
  • Hold responsibility for musical continuity, coordination notes, and rehearsal documentation
  • Contribute to internal communication between artistic, production, and music departments

This is not a fellowship or shadowing position; it is an active artistic and rehearsal leadership assignment.

What We Offer

  • A unique opportunity to work in one of the world’s most iconic opera festivals
  • Full immersion in one of our major operatic productions
  • Professional fee (range depends on production assignment; discussed individually at offer stage)
  • Travel costs provided
  • International industry visibility and mentoring

Candidate Profile

We seek candidates who:

  • Are at an advanced level of conducting studies OR in the first 3–8 years of their professional career
  • Have substantial experience working with singers
  • Possess strong musical preparation, communication, and rehearsal leadership
  • Have demonstrable interest in opera repertoire and theatre process
  • Are fluent in English (working language); Italian/German/French an asset
  • Having excellent piano skills, sufficient for coaching opera repertoire, is an asset
  • Can remain in Savonlinna for the required rehearsal period (June-July 2026, specific dates TBC)

How to Apply

Submit all materials (listed below) via the online form by 31 January 2026. Final interviews will be conducted remotely in February 2026.

  1. CV (max 2 pages)
  2. Video links (YouTube/unlisted or Vimeo)
    • 1 excerpt: conducting orchestra (preferred opera/lyric repertoire)
    • 1 excerpt: conducting or leading a rehearsal (or coaching with piano)
  3. Short motivation statement
  4. Two reference contacts (teachers, conductors, répétiteurs, or managers)
  5. Optional: 1–2 pages of rehearsal notes you have produced in a previous project

Further queries about the position: Please submit your question through this form, and we will respond by email as soon as possible. Please note that only the questions submitted via the link will be processed and answered.

Apply here

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The Savonlinna Opera Festival is Finland’s most internationally renowned cultural event and one of the country’s most significant tourist attractions. The month-long festival brings 65,000–70,000 visitors annually to Olavinlinna Castle, approximately 10% of whom arrive from abroad.

Opera in Savonlinna is a fully immersive experience: high-quality international performances, the unique atmosphere of Olavinlinna Castle, and summer evenings by Lake Saimaa combine to create something truly unforgettable.

Opera performances have been staged at Olavinlinna since 1912. During the festival season, the event employs approximately 500–600 seasonal staff. The festival’s annual budget is around EUR 8 million, of which 85% is covered through self-generated income and ticket sales. In 2024, the festival’s direct tourism impact on the Savonlinna region was approximately EUR 26.2 million.

The festival is produced by the non-profit Savonlinna Opera Festival Support Association, which is responsible for production, ticket sales, and marketing. The next Savonlinna Opera Festival will take place 3 July–1 August 2026.