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Vocal Workshops and Masterclasses 2026/2027

Posted: September 3rd, 2026

From October 20th Barefoot Opera will be staging their trademark workshops with the Barefoot team every Tuesday evening from 7.00 to 9.15pm at Barefoot Studio, 93 Endwell Road, London SE4 2NF. These workshops cost from £35 per session and are open to a maximum of six participants. They will all include individual expert tuition for each participant.

Moving Voice Research Labs

Do you want self-connection with your whole body, more spontaneity, and more confidence to move/sound/play with others?

In five sessions, which can be taken as a whole (recommended) or partially, we offer practical exercises to prepare your body, your breath and your voice for supported, expressive singing/performing.

What do these old chestnuts mean: ‘singing on the breath’, ‘using support’, ‘singing in the mask’? How can we discover the qualities behind these concepts? We will also address: ‘warm up’; ‘being in the middle of the action’; ‘ending the phrase/beginning freshly’; ‘finding freedom within constraint’; ‘image and imagination’ and more!

We know these capacities change and will change throughout the course of your career. These sessions are a space to research or ‘lab’ your own questions and current needs together with other artists.

We aim for these sessions to be supportive for singers, and also actors, dancers and instrumentalists interested in and motivated by unlocking more of their potential in performance.

Moving Voice sessions come in five parts. You can attend all five classes for £20 per class; if you attend 3 of the 5 classes it’s £25; the cost of attending one class is £35.

(see below for schedule and information about specific classes)

Italian Workshops

The Art of Italian Diction Taster Session

Would you like to gain a deeper understanding of the poetic language of Italian opera and avoid common pitfalls for non-native speakers?

Free: Discover the foundations of expressive Italian opera singing in this two-hour taster workshop. Designed for classical singing students, young professionals and opera enthusiasts of all ages, the session is led by Italian language specialist Monique Klongtruadroke and pianist and répétiteur Satoshi Kubo, with support from Barefoot Opera’s Founder, Jenny Miller (click here for biogs).

The workshop reflects Barefoot Opera’s holistic approach, where diction is explored as an integral part of singing alongside breath, voice, movement and dramatic expression. Beginning with Barefoot Opera’s signature voice & movement warm-up, participants will work together on a short Italian recitative before receiving individual guidance on 1 or 2 phrases from their prepared Italian arias, learning through shared discussion and observation, as well as personal feedback.

This interactive session offers a taste of the upcoming Italian Triptych Course, where singers will develop greater confidence in Italian diction, and discover how clear pronunciation can support vocal technique and musical expression.

(see below for schedule and information about specific classes)

Italian Triptych Course

Italian Triptych: From Diction to Performance is a three-session practical workshop series for classical singing students, young professionals and opera enthusiasts of all ages, offering a journey from the foundations of Italian diction to its application in performance.

Across three Tuesday evening sessions, participants will explore Italian pronunciation, poetic language and diction both collectively and individually. Alongside their individual arias/recits, they will also work on an opera ensemble or chorus extract, bringing together diction, musicality, movement and expression as part of the preparation for an informal final performance.

The three-session format allows singers time between sessions to practise, absorb the work and explore possible new repertoire. In addition, each participant will have an online individual Italian diction coaching session with Monique, providing more dedicated time to troubleshoot specific challenges and explore their repertoire in greater detail. This series offers a complete mini-journey from text and technique to practice and performance, reflecting Barefoot Opera’s interdisciplinary approach to opera training.

(see below for schedule and information about specific classes)

Masterclasses

As in past years, we are offering brilliant coaching in masterclass format from Penelope Randall-Davis, Nicholas Bosworth Jenny Miller and Satoshi Kubo.

Penelope Randall-Davis is a brilliant internationally experienced coloratura soprano (link), Nicholas Bosworth and Satoshi Kubo are highly regarded freelance coaches with a speciality in working with singers and Jenny Miller after a career that embraced both singing and directing is deeply involved in research on the art of singing and performing on the operatic stage.

In all of our workshops and masterclasses we offer rather than insist on solutions, we leave judgement outside the door and we create a very supportive environment for discovery, research and play.

(see below for schedule and information about specific classes)

What is special about Barefoot Opera’s integrated training?

Barefoot Opera’s tutors positively enable and support the work that singers are already engaged in, whilst offering fresh insights into the skills of classical singing and integrated movement.

Since we believe that real artistry and satisfaction in our art form is only found by engaging our whole self in the process, we work with the whole body/person in every sense.  

We firmly believe that a deeper understanding of how your body and breath work in movement will significantly develop your understanding of your voice, and to this end we have been creating a unique body of work for over fifteen years with our movement specialists. Barefoot Opera invites you to rethink and deconstruct: to strip opera down to the basics of body, breath, movement, sound.

We help you to access what you already have: the tools and resources to improve your whole experience of singing and performing. See the video below to sample our unique offer.

Our training exercises enable you to develop an energised, physical, ensemble approach – key to facilitating the demands of contemporary directors.

Cancellation Policy

We accept cancellations up to a week before the class takes place. Our classes are very small, so we cannot be more lenient about last minute cancellations. However, you are very welcome to offer your place to someone else. 

Workshop Schedule (Tuesdays 7.00pm to 9.15pm)

Tuesday, October 20th 2026Satoshi Kubo, Monique Klongtruadroke (Jenny Miller)Italian Diction for Singers – Taster (see above)
Tuesday, October 27th 2026Satoshi Kubo, Jenny MillerAudition Prep – what it says on the tin!
Tuesday, November 3rd 2026Penelope Randall-Davis, Nicholas BosworthColoratura Brainstorm – a chance to bring all your coloratura problems to the table
Tuesday, November 10th 2026Satoshi Kubo, Monique Klongtruadroke (Jenny Miller)The Art of Italian Diction for Singers (see above)
Tuesday, November 17th 2026Alexandra Baybutt, Jenny MillerThe Moving Voice, Part 1 (see above)
Tuesday, November 24th 2026Satoshi Kubo, Jenny MillerDelivering the Story – exploring how to be a brilliant storyteller as a classical singer
Tuesday, December 1st 2026Satoshi Kubo, Jenny MillerWhat is a Beautiful Sound? – exploring the quality that we bring to meaning and intention as we sing
Tuesday, December 8th 2026Penelope Randall-Davis, Nicholas BosworthVoice and Coach Workshop – all repertoire accepted
Tuesday, December 15th 2026Alexandra Baybutt, Jenny MillerThe Moving Voice, Part 2 (see above)
Tuesday, January 12th 2027Alexandra Baybutt, Jenny MillerThe Moving Voice, Part 3 (see above)
Tuesday, January 19th 2027Satoshi Kubo, Monique KlongtruadrokeItalian Triptych, Part 1 (see above)
Tuesday, January 26th 2027Satoshi Kubo, Jenny MillerMasterclass – individuals work in depth in a supported environment
Tuesday, February 2nd 2027Alexandra Baybutt, Jenny MillerThe Moving Voice, Part 4 (see above)
Tuesday, February 9th 2027Jenny Miller, Nicholas BosworthMasterclass – individuals work in depth in a supported environment
Tuesday, February 16th 2027Satoshi Kubo, Jenny MillerMasterclass – individuals work in depth in a supported environment
Tuesday, February 23rd 2027Satoshi Kubo, Monique KlongtruadrokeItalian Triptych, Part 2 (see above)
Tuesday March 2nd, 2027Satoshi Kubo, Monique KlongtruadrokeItalian Triptych, Part 3, performance
Tuesday, March 9th 2027Alexandra Baybutt, Jenny MillerThe Moving Voice, Part 5 (see above)
Tuesday, March 16th 2027Penelope Randall-Davis, Nicholas BosworthMasterclass – individuals work in depth in a supported environment
Tuesday, March 23rd 2027TBCTBC

Cosi Fan Tutte: Advanced Performance Course

Posted: October 30th, 2025

Tuesday April 7 – Tuesday April 14 2026 with additional performance dates

A unique opportunity for advanced singers to learn a significant repertoire role, to develop freedom of movement, sound and conviction as performers, and to perform in an established London venue.

Over six days we will create a Cosi Fan Tutte course in which two casts play the opera together, alternating and sharing in taking solo scenes in physical theatre style. Both casts are on-stage to combine to create the crazy world of identity crisis that is at the heart of Da Ponte and Mozart’s problem piece. We keep the emphasis on All people are like that, and create a shifting landscape where each performer can be a table leg, an interloper or a named character at any given moment, and swop a top hat for a blonde wig, or a moustache for a garter belt. On the seventh day the fully-staged performance will be performed for a small paying audience, sung in Italian and condensed into two 50 minute halves.

The course includes:
Daily Barefoot Opera group ‘body voice and movement’ work, and rehearsals to develop the production. Individual coaching throughout the week on arias, voice and movement.

Based in South London within walking distance from Brockley station, the course is directed by Jenny Miller, with experienced opera coach and conductor Lesley-Anne Sammons as Musical Director.

Vocal coaching will be provided by both Jenny and Penelope Randall-Davis, and vocal and musical guidance will be offered by our two Glyndebourne and Jette-Parker coaches Nicolas Bosworth and Satoshi Kubo.

Alexandra Baybutt is our movement coach for the course.

There will be additional performances at:
– Battle Festival: Sunday July 12th : four days’ revival rehearsals in St Leonards Tues July 8th –  Saturday July 11 at no extra cost to participants. See below.
– Grimeborne Festival, Arcola Theatre, London :  July 20-25 get-in Monday, four performances Tues July 21, Wed July 22, Friday July 24 ,Sat July 25)
– A venue in St Leonards (Friday 4th Sept tbc).

Course fee: £675

Includes:  a simple lunch, and all tuition in London.

Cost of return travel London-St Leonards, accommodation and meals for the July rehearsals for Battle, and the September St Leonard’s performance.

Audition: by video clip latest date: December 31st 2025
Apply and submit your audition through the APPLY NOW button.
Final auditions: live in South East London Sunday Jan 11th 2pm -6pm
Casting confirmed Wednesday January 15th 2026.

Please read this information carefully:

  1. On successful audition, performers must confirm participation within one week, and then pay the full amount on the Barefoot Opera website. (If this is financially difficult please contact info@barefootopera and we can discuss other possible arrangements. )
  2. The fee is non refundable, and performers wishing to withdraw will be required to find an acceptable replacement. (Barefoot Opera management will do their best to help).
  3. The successful candidates must undertake to completely memorise and prepare their role in advance of Tuesday April 7th 2026

Informal Workshops 2026

Posted: March 30th, 2024

This academic year we offer a range of informal workshops led by different members of our team – read below for details. Dates for our autumn workshops will be announced soon.

Vocal workshops

We start with a group exercise session, followed by a solo spot of 20-30 minutes duration. Your own choice of repertoire is supported by one of our outstanding coaches, and the active engagement of the whole group.  Please wear comfortable clothing and expect to go barefoot or in socks. Please let us know in advance of your choice of repertoire, and bring a copy for the accompanist.

Movement workshops: In these workshops group work in movement will be the dominant activity, but singing and sounds will be part of the experience. Clothing for movement is required.

What is special about Barefoot Opera’s integrated training?

Barefoot Opera’s tutors positively enable and support the work that singers are already engaged in, whilst offering fresh insights into the skills of classical singing and integrated movement.

Since we believe that real artistry and satisfaction in our art form is only found by engaging our whole self in the process, we work with the whole body /person in every sense.  We firmly believe that a deeper understanding of how your body and breath work in movement will significantly develop your understanding of your voice, and to this end we have been creating a unique body of work for over fifteen years with our movement specialists.

Barefoot Opera invites you to rethink and deconstruct: to strip opera down to the basics of body, breath, movement, sound. We help you to access what you already have: the tools and resources to improve your whole experience of singing and performing. See the video below to sample our unique offer.

Our training exercises enable you to develop an energised, physical, ensemble approach – key to facilitating the demands of contemporary directors.