Behind the Scenes Magic: Julia Meyering and the Youth Chorus of Seattle Opera's "Tosca"

A recent interview with Trae Holiday and Julia Meyering shed light on a crucial, yet often unseen, aspect of bringing a grand production like Seattle Opera's "Tosca" to life – the youth chorus. Julia, a music educator with a background deeply rooted in classical singing, shared her journey and the intricate process of preparing young singers for the stage.

Julia's connection to Seattle Opera began serendipitously in 2018 when a friend encouraged her to audition for "Porgy and Bess." What started as a personal venture quickly evolved when Julia volunteered to work with the child extras. Her natural affinity for working with young people and her social media presence showcasing her choir work caught the attention of Seattle Opera, leading to an offer to direct the youth chorus for "Tosca."

Julia's own musical journey began in a family filled with singers. From her grandmother's USO singing group to another grandmother's gospel singing in church, music was always a part of her life. Choir in school led to a high school director who was an opera singer, inspiring her to pursue classical singing and a degree in vocal performance. This rich background clearly influences her approach to working with the youth chorus.

For "Tosca," Julia auditioned approximately 90-100 kids over three days. Selecting the right combination of voices and ensuring they were independent singers with the ability to sing in tune was a "pretty complex audition process." A height requirement added another layer of consideration. Once selected, the real work began.

Rehearsals kicked off with music learning, but Julia prioritized building a sense of community first. She has the kids fill out a "personality profile," sharing fun facts and personal details anonymously at the beginning of each rehearsal. This fosters trust and camaraderie, essential for the challenging work ahead. Rehearsals, lasting one and a half to two hours, involved working with an accompanist and sometimes learning the chorus or soloist parts themselves, emphasizing the teamwork involved.

One of the biggest challenges is preparing young singers, as young as nine, to sing complex music in foreign languages like Italian. Julia's method involves starting with speaking the language in rhythm until it's almost memorized, then adding notes with a neutral syllable before bringing everything together. If needed, she makes text recordings for the kids to practice at home.

As show day approaches, Julia's role shifts. She hands the chorus off to the maestro before staging rehearsals, where the young singers must integrate their language, music, and acting while moving and following cues. Her preparation includes running scenes repeatedly, having them sing with their music turned around, and even jumping and dancing while singing. She also provides detailed notes after each rehearsal, ensuring they’re ready to take the stage.

Julia finds immense joy in watching the young performers grow comfortable and confident on stage, communicating the story through their faces and movements. The highlight is seeing their pride and satisfaction after a scene they know they've done well. She describes the youth chorus as bringing "excitement, youthfulness, silliness, and that youthful joy" to "Tosca," offering a lighter, more joyful break from the opera's heavier themes of jealousy and betrayal.

Ultimately, Julia sees her role as imparting her passion for the arts to the next generation. The experience of working on "Tosca" exposes these young people not only to opera but to multi-disciplinary facets of the arts, including music, language, acting, and teamwork. She encourages everyone to see the show, emphasizing its magnificence and the special synergy of live performance.

Through Julia Meyering's dedication and expertise, the youth chorus of Seattle Opera's "Tosca" becomes a vital and vibrant part of the production, adding a unique and memorable dimension to the story.

Tosca is playing now through May 17th, and tickets are available here: https://www.seattleopera.org/performances-events/tosca-2025/