Support the 5th Essex Summer Opera Festival
The Essex Summer Opera Festival brings incredible performances to the stunning Layer Marney Tower, forming the centre of both our summer season and our education programme.
Now in it's fifth year, from 5-7 June 2026 the festival will be bringing a new production of The Marriage of Figaro 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. In summer 2025, this included stage experience in over 24 performances for our four Emerging 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 Roman River Festival into the next 25 years
Every year we bring some of the world's finest musicians to Colchester and the beautiful villages of coastal Essex. Having celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2025, we are looking for the generous individuals who will take the festival forward into the next quarter century. Help us 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.