When Anna Brady, who successfully auditioned for our Young Associate Artists Programme earlier this year, came into our production office to speak with the programme manager, we took the opportunity to ask her to talk to us about her reasons for wanting to be part of the programme and what the audition process was like. Also, we asked, did she have any advice for future candidates?

We'd like to thank Anna for agreeing to this impromptu interview, filmed on iPhone.

The Young Associate Artists Programme is the only programme in the Republic of Ireland for the professional development of young singers. Become a patron of OTC and support the future of opera.

We are delighted to formally announce this year's Young Artist, who will be following in the footsteps of some amazing singers.

OTC's Young Associate Artists Programme - the only professional development programme for young singers in the Republic of Ireland - is proud of the success of its alumni, including last year's graduates - you can read an interview with two of 2011's Young Artists here, to give you a flavour of what the programme means to the participants.

We look forward to getting to know Grace Bermingham, Anna Brady, Jennifer Davis, Fearghal Curtis, Patrick Hyland and Padraic Rowan better as the year progresses, building on their strengths and bringing their talent to fruition.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar names on the Winners’ List of the recent Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil – all the current Young Artists are there and many alumni - Benjamin Russell won the Cuisine de France Count John McCormack Bursary - as well as two of the trebles from our recent production of The Magic Flute: Ferdia Peelo-Walsh and Jack Hopkins. Well done all! 

Young Artist Padraic Rowan with the Mahler & Bradbury Cups he won at this year's Feis Ceoil - picture Christine Klenke

What a tour it was! Starting in November in The Lir in Dublin's city centre, travelling to Tallaght (twice), Thurles, Tralee, Galway, Bray, Drogheda, back to Dublin city centre in The Samuel Beckett Theatre, Trinity, then on to Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Navan, Blanchardstown, Kilkenny, Downpatrick, Letterkenny and finally ending in Carlow on February 18th.

So many people took the time throughout this tour to come to us after the show and tell us how much they enjoyed this production. We had lots of comments on Twitter, and here's a word cloud of audience reaction from Facebook:

Is your local venue mentioned? Some towns are definitely more vocal than others! If you have any feedback on our tour of The Magic Flute, we welcome your comments below.

So great has been the demand for tickets for The Magic Flute in Downpatrick, that we are moving to a more capacious venue.

This performance, in association with Downe Independent Promotions, is the only Northern Ireland date on our extensive tour of The Magic Flute.

We are delighted to report that it will now take place at The Great Hall, Downshire Estate.

Due to this move, an additional batch of tickets has been placed on sale, so book now to avoid disappointment!! Booking is via Down Arts Centre: 028 4461 0747