Castleton Artist Training Seminar

The Castleton Artist Training Seminar (C.A.T.S.), a part of the famed Castleton Music Fesitval, was founded by Maestro Lorin Maazel in 2009.

Auditions for the 2015 Castleton Artists Training Seminar will be held on Thursday, October 9 at St. Mark's Church located at 1111 O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. The auditions will be conducted by Dietlinde Maazel and Castleton General Manager Nancy Gustafson, one of the opera world's leading sopranos.

Dietlinde Maazel was married to Lorin Maazel, the former music direction of the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera and other ensembles around the world who died this past summer. His wife, and Castleton co-founder, will continue as Castleton's Artistic Director.

Castleton, set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, welcomes young professional singers to work on their craft alongside more experienced professionals such as opera superstars Carol Vaness, Denyce Graves, Richard Leeves and Julliard teacher extraordinaire Marlena Malas. They study for eight weeks of rehearsals and performances.

Students who are selected to be a part of C.A.T.S. participate in classes that included:

Voice Lessons and Coaching
German Language & Diction
Italian Language & Diction
Performance Techniques
Movement for Stage
Stage Combat
Career & Audition Preparation

Select C.A.T.S. students will perform and cover roles in main stage productions. Other performance opportunities include

Opera Scenes with Orchestra
Song Recitals
Musical Theatre Cabarets and Outreach
Opera Chorus in main stage productions

They will have multiple opportunities to perform at the Maazel family's 550-acre Castleton Farm where venues include a 648 seat air-conditioned proscenium theatre and an intimate, state-of-the-art 138 seat proscenium theater.