Support the 4th Essex Summer Opera Festival
The Essex Summer Opera Festival brings five incredible performances to the stunning Layer Marney Tower, forming the centre of both our summer season and our education programme.
Now in it's fourth year, from 17-22 June 2025 the festival will be bringing Dominic Dromgoole's new production of Eugene Onegin and a revival of Guido Martin Brandis's The Elixir of Love to the Opera Barn.
Lead our group of supporters in bringing the festival to life.
Sponsor a young singer
The Wild Arts Young Artists Programme gives 4-6 exceptionally talented emerging artists each year the opportunity to hone their craft in a professional production setting – gaining confidence through vocal, language, and acting coaching; and through
rehearsals and performances with an experienced
ensemble of established artists.
At the heart of the programme is the opportunity for emerging opera singers to take on not just a cover role, but a main role in our headline opera performances. For The Magic Flute in 2024, this included stage experience in over 20 performances for six young artists.
Support an orchestral player
The Wild Arts Ensemble is no ordinary orchestra. It is composed of some of the leading chamber and orchestral musicians in the UK, and forms the heart of every Wild Arts performance, as well as our outreach.
We are delighted that our leader, Sijie Chen, is supported by Patrick and Louise Grattan, and we hope that (with time) all the positions in our ensemble may have an individual sponsor that ensures we can continue to provide the best possible musical experience.
Support the 25th Anniversary Roman River Festival
Every year we bring some of the world's finest musicians to Colchester and the beautiful villages of coastal Essex. Help us to celebrate 25 years of the Roman River Festival by supporting an individual artist or performance.
Support our apprenticeship scheme
An opera production relies on a range of key skills and knowledge. Carpenters, costume experts, stage managers, writers, linguists and of course musicians including the repetiteur, who plays the whole orchestral score on the piano for rehearsals and also coaches the singers.
Wild Arts gives opportunities for young people to shadow and learn from top professionals. Please get in touch with your personal area of interest.
Become a Friend for priority booking
Join our growing band of Wild Arts Friends, who are essential to everything we do, and in particular support our education and schools work. Many of our performances sell out so there is a real benefit to supporting the charity.