The future is now at COT.

The Vanguard Initiative is Chicago Opera Theater's comprehensive program for composers ready to delve into the world of opera. This immersive residency includes participation in all COT productions, sessions with top industry leaders, extensive study of repertoire and vocal writing, direct insight into administrative and other behind-the-scenes processes, and culminates with the development of a full-length chamber opera commissioned by COT.

The program aims to bridge the gap between general compositional skills and the dramatic storytelling, vocal writing, practical considerations, and real-world experience that help inform an operatic composer’s work. Launched in 2018 by former Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya, the program identifies skilled composers who have not yet had sufficient opportunities for writing opera and provides them with a two-year comprehensive course of study and full immersion in the company, culminating with a one-act opera commission together with an established librettist, which is performed in concert.

Artist mentorship initiatives at COT are now overseen by General Director Lawrence Edelson, who brings to the company over two decades of experience mentoring emerging opera composers, librettists and dramaturgs through his work at American Lyric Theater - where he oversaw the development of COT’s critically acclaimed world premieres The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Chen/Simpatico), and She Who Dared (Barnes/Mouton). Stay tuned for exciting news to be announced about the expansion of COT’s commitment to supporting the next generation of opera writers!