Summer Music Camps

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is dedicated to providing professional, creative and accessible programming to all individuals regardless of their age, gender and cultural and economic backgrounds. The COC seeks to minimize barriers, such as program fees, to participation in COC community programming.

There are a limited amount of bursary funds available to individuals who demonstrate a strong desire and commitment to engage in COC programs but for whom cost prohibits their participation.

Application Criteria and Requirements

• Applicants must demonstrate financial need and interest in participating in a COC Community Program
• Applicants may apply for a bursary for more than one program per season
• The amount awarded to individuals is based on the number of applications received and the financial need of the applicants
• The COC cannot guarantee that full or partial bursaries will be awarded to all applicants

Application

The application period for bursaries is now open. Please click here to download our Bursary Application form. The deadline for all bursary applications is May 16, 2025, however bursaries are awarded on an ongoing basis until this date, so it is best to apply as early as possible.

Questions? Contact education@coc.ca 

We realize that plans may change, and have developed a fair refund policy to provide you some flexibility.

• If you cancel your child’s registration on or before April 26, 2025, you are entitled to a full refund.
• Any registrations cancelled between April 25 and June 27, 2025 will be partially refunded (less a 25% administration fee).
• No refunds will be given after the program registration deadline date of June 27, 2025
• Last-minute withdrawals supported by a medical note must be made by one business day prior to the program start date for a refund less than a 25% administrative fee.
• No refunds, partial or full, will be accorded to participants who decide to withdraw after the start of the program.

Camp takes place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, which is located at 145 Queen Street West. The program room entrance is east of the Box Office located on the South East corner of Queen Street West and University Avenue.

On Mondays, campers can be dropped off beginning at 8:30 a.m. For the remainder of the week, campers can be dropped off beginning at 8:45 a.m. The program begins at 9 a.m.

Extended care allows Little and Junior Company campers to be picked up later (additional fee of $40/week). Extended care is supervised by staff and lightly programmed. Campers registered for extended care must be picked up by 5 p.m.

There is no extended care for Intermediate and Senior Company campers.

The Canadian Opera Company is dedicated to providing professional, creative and accessible opera programs to all individuals regardless of their age, gender, and cultural and economic backgrounds. The COC seeks to minimize barriers, such as program fees, to participation in COC community programming.

Each year, we award a number of bursaries for Summer Music Camp on the basis of financial need. There is a limited amount of bursary funds available to individuals who demonstrate a strong desire and commitment to engage in COC programs but for whom cost prohibits their participation.

Bursary applications for summer 2025 can be found here. The deadline for all bursary applications will be May 16, 2025, however bursaries will be awarded on an ongoing basis, so it is best to apply as early as possible.

Bursary Application Criteria and Requirements

• Applicants must demonstrate financial need and interest in participating in a COC Community Program
• Applicants may apply for a bursary for more than one program per season
• The amount awarded to individuals is based on the number of applications received and the financial need of the applicants
• The COC cannot guarantee that full or partial bursaries will be awarded to all applicants

The application period for bursaries is now open. Please click here to download our Bursary Application form. The deadline for all bursary applications is May 17, 2024, however bursaries are awarded on an ongoing basis until this date, so it is best to apply as early as possible.

Questions? Contact education@coc.ca

All camps are specifically designed to provide the best possible experience for the age groups indicated. No exceptions will be made for applicants who are not available for their age group’s camp. This applies to all ages.

No. Lunch is not provided. Please send your child to camp with a nut-free lunch, snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Though the COC cannot guarantee a nut-free environment, we request that participants refrain from bringing food items that contain nut ingredients (eg. peanut butter sandwiches, peanut oil, etc.) to the program.

Clothing must be appropriate for active fun! Campers will be involved in drama and movement sessions which require them to have a wide range of movement. Campers will also participate in arts and craft activities. Spills are inevitable and may not wash out completely. Clothing should be chosen accordingly. Please refrain from sending your child to camp in sandals for safety reasons.

A link to a mandatory online health and medical safety form will be sent to the email provided in your registration.

Camp is led by an artistic team including a composer, a drama and voice specialist, a designer, and one or more assistants and volunteers. Stay tuned for biographies of the artistic team.

Your child will explore composing, singing, storytelling, creative writing, acting, movement, and the visual arts, while having fun and meeting new friends with similar interests.

Working with an existing story as a starting point, participants will write and compose their own opera with help from professional Teaching Artists.

Next they’ll choose a role and begin staging and rehearsing their opera, as well as designing and creating costumes, props, and/or a set for their opera. Campers will present a showcase of their creation to family and friends on the last day of camp. Activities are always adjusted according to the abilities and interests of the age group.

"[My child learned] effective communication, [a] thorough understanding of how an opera is put on, working with peers, collaborative work on a libretto, performing in front of a live audience with confidence."

—Summer Music Camps, 2024 Parent

"I felt like I gained a new love for the COC building and the people working here. It's really amazing to see the thought and work they do and it's an environment that feels nurturing."

—Summer Music Camps, 2024 Camper

"This was such a great experience, I'm really thankful to have been a part of the program ????"

—Summer Music Camps 2024 Camper

"The friendly staff and fun performance made this a fantastic experience. We’ll definitely sign up again."

—Summer Music Camps 2024 Parent

"Thank you for an amazing week! Your staff were extremely respectful and supportive of my child. She was well looked after and loved each of her teachers. Creating a play from the ground up is a phenomenal idea and have not seen her so excited to learn something new!"

—Summer Music Camps 2023 Parent

"I will always remember the amazing friendships I made and the artists I got to meet! The tour of the COC building was really inspiring. My favourite part was probably writing and performing the songs."

—Summer Music Camps 2023 Camper

"[Camper] enjoyed the creative process of all the elements that go into putting on a production, including the design aspects. [They] have more experience on the performance side, which is [their] favourite part, but [they] liked getting opportunity to do set design, work on the libretto, etc."

—Summer Music Camps, 2022 Parent

"The staff were phenomenal, professional, and responsive. Well done!!"

—Summer Music Camps, 2022 Parent