About the Technicians Program
Become an Integral Part of Our Productions
The Apprentice Program for Technicians, established in 1965, is an entry level to intermediate level training program and offers instruction and practical experience in the areas of Stage Operations, Properties, Audio/Video, Costumes, Production/Music Services, Wigs and Makeup, Electrics and Scenic Art.
The Technical Apprentice engagements range from 10-14 weeks, depending on position and department. Technical Apprentices receive an hourly wage with overtime potential, and financial assistance toward the cost of travel to and from Santa Fe, NM.
Apprentice housing is located in fully furnished Opera-owned apartments centrally located in Santa Fe, NM. While a small housing fee is deducted weekly from their base pay, Santa Fe Opera subsidizes the remainder of the cost of housing. The apartment complex is walkable to downtown amenities, but not to the Opera grounds. Having a vehicle is a plus, but not a requirement for application. Carpooling is encouraged, and drivers are compensated for carpooling colleagues to and from the opera.
In addition to the daily work responsibilities, throughout the season we offer Director and Designer Panel Discussions for each of the 5 productions. Â Seminars are also held which have included: Welding, Casting, AutoCAD, 3D printing, Blood workshops, Resume workshops, AD and PSM workshops, Hydraulics/Pneumatics, CNC, Stress skin techniques, How to run an effective fitting, How to create costume paperwork for shows, Introduction to Santa Fe Opera costume stock, How to pull and restock, Safety in Crafts and Paint spaces, Faux painting techniques, and Shop math, among others.
An additional event during the season is the Portfolio Fair. The Portfolio Fair is an opportunity for the Technical Apprentices to showcase their talents for invited industry guests, Board Members, staff and fellow apprentices. Those who wish to participate in the Portfolio Fair are encouraged to have their materials fully prepared prior to their arrival for the summer, as there will be minimal time to work on your portfolio materials once they arrive.
Once all of the season’s repertory productions have opened, the Technical Apprentices have the opportunity to participate in the production of one night of fully-staged Apprentice Scenes, which feature the Apprentice Singers. The Technical Apprentices may apply to be a staff-level position or designer for the scenes. An additional opportunity for the Technical Apprentices is to participate in the Apprentice Singer Concert which will include the full orchestra onstage. This may be an opportunity for designing, styling and crew management.
The Santa Fe Opera festival season is very demanding, but also incredibly rewarding. Due to the outdoor setting of our venue, technical rehearsals must begin after sunset and therefore extend late into the night/early morning hours, with changeovers commencing after technical rehearsals.
Applicants may apply for up to two departments in order of preference. Please note: You must be 18 years of age to apply for the Apprentice Program for Technicians.
