Trainee Programmes

Participants of the 2026–2027 Season programme
Katarzyna Dudareva (Soprano)
Gabija Kušleikaitė (Mezzo-soprano)
Nojus Vytis Gutauskas (Tenor)
Vocal coaches: Prof. Asta Krikščiūnaitė, Prof. Vladimiras Prudnikovas

LNOBT Opera Trainee Programme: a Pathway to the Future of Opera

The art of opera remains alive as long as it is nurtured and uniquely interpreted by new generations of performers. The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, which has been running its Opera Trainee programme since 2013, aims not only to present opera of the highest calibre to today’s audience, but also to contribute to shaping its future – giving young talents the opportunity to grow, hone their craft, and take their first confident steps on the professional stage.

Selected through an audition process, these young opera singers become part of the LNOBT soloists' community for an entire season. The traineeship opens up opportunities for them to learn from experienced vocal coaches, directors, and conductors, prepare roles for the theatre’s stage, participate in productions, and gain professional experience in a real opera house environment. Here, continuously refined vocal mastery blends with stage expression, musical preparation meets creative collaboration, and talent finds the chance to unfold through practical work.

An essential component of the programme is the transfer of experience and dialogue between different generations of performers. Prominent Lithuanian opera soloists work with the young singers, including stage masters Sigutė Stonytė, Asta Krikščiūnaitė, Vladimiras Prudnikovas, Arūnas Malikėnas, and Liudas Norvaišas. Their professional expertise and pedagogical experience help trainees deepen their capabilities, cultivate stage awareness, and gain a richer understanding of the complex opera world, which demands seamless collaboration across numerous creative disciplines.

The significance of the programme is further validated by its results: several former trainees have become LNOBT company soloists, while many young singers invited to perform in the theatre’s productions are also graduates of this programme, with some successfully building international careers. Today, artists delighting audiences with their voices – such as Monika Pleškytė, Raimundas Juzuitis, Steponas Zonys, Ieva Juozapaitytė, Kamilė Bonté, Karolis Kašiuba, Gabrielė Bukinė, Austėja Zinkevičiūtė, Mindaugas Tomas Miškinis, and a host of other fine young soloists – all took their first steps on the big stage precisely through the Opera Trainee Programme. Their professional journeys bear witness to how a Traineeship can serve as a vital starting point.

Nurturing young performers means caring not only for their individual professional futures, but also for the continuity of opera culture as a whole. Every new generation of singers brings its own distinct voice and creative perspective, enriching established traditions and unlocking new possibilities for interpretation. Thus, the Opera Trainee Programme stands as an integral part of LNOBT’s mission – a living commitment to the future of Lithuanian opera, where respect for tradition harmonizes with openness to new talents and artistic experiences.

Participants of the 2026–2027 Season programme
Agota Korytė
Deivė Niauraitė
Jogailė Staikūnaitė
Eva Bugakova
Kostas Grudzinskas

LNOBT Ballet Trainee Programme: A Structured Path to the Professional Stage

In the 2026–2027 season, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre launched a new, structured Ballet Trainee Programme designed for talented graduates of Lithuanian and international ballet schools who are preparing to join a professional repertoire company.

The programme combines daily ballet classes, repertoire rehearsals, performances, concerts, educational projects, masterclasses, choreographer auditions, and physical conditioning. Together, these activities form a consistent process of professional growth, helping young dancers strengthen their technical and artistic skills, develop independence, and gradually adapt to the workload of a national ballet company.

Individual Attention and Connection with the Ballet School

Each trainee’s development path is tailored to their technical and artistic background, strengths, and areas for improvement. Trainees participate in regular company classes, and when needed, dedicated trainee classes are organized to provide more personalized attention. Students in their final years at the ballet school can also join these classes, giving them an opportunity to engage with theatre life and experience the working rhythm of a professional company. This strengthens the bond between the ballet school and the theatre.

Stage and Creative Experience

Trainees perform in children's and educational productions, opera stagings, concerts, and other creative projects. As their readiness progresses, they are integrated into rehearsals and performances for the main ballet repertoire, learning roles and working alongside experienced company dancers.

The programme also features international masterclasses, work with guest teachers, répétiteurs, and choreographers, as well as opportunities to audition for new productions. This exposes trainees to diverse choreographic styles and professional theatre practices.

Physical Conditioning

A key component of the programme is physical conditioning, injury prevention, and occupational health. Trainees have access to consultations with LNOBT’s health, sports, and fitness specialists. In collaboration with the "JUSIS Training" team, they build strength, stability, coordination, and endurance to better handle the intense physical demands of the company.

Flexible Work Organization

A annualized hours system allows trainees to flexibly balance classes, rehearsals, physical conditioning, masterclasses, concerts, and performances. The workload is distributed based on the theatre’s schedule and the trainee’s individual development needs. This setup allows for a gradual increase in professional demands while maintaining a focus on learning quality and long-term growth.

Individual Pace of Growth

Although designed as a two-year programme, each dancer’s journey is unique. Just a few months after the programme launched, one trainee already joined the LNOBT corps de ballet. This demonstrates that the traineeship is not merely a fixed timeframe, but an opportunity to progress at one's own pace and join the main company as soon as the required level of readiness is achieved.

An Investment in the Future of Lithuanian Ballet

The Ballet Trainee Programme strengthens the continuity of professional education, reinforces the link between the ballet school and the theatre, and fosters a new generation of professional artists in Lithuania. A national theatre’s responsibility is not only to find established professionals, but also to create the right conditions for them to grow.

Structured and tailored for individual development, the programme empowers young artists to build experience, refine their skills, and prepare for a fulfilling career as ballet dancers.