When James Fox Artist Management was founded, we saw a clear need for Russian singers and singers from former Soviet bloc countries to be represented in Europe and in the Untied States. Over the past two years, it has been challenging for our clients to arrive for auditions in the United States and Europe due to various problems: obtaining a VISA for travel, cost of travel and cost of accommodation in a foreign country. Further, other agencies have admitted that they have had similar difficulties with their Russian clients. From these challenges the idea of the White Nights Opera Auditions was born.

Young opera singers, experienced opera singers and even accomplished opera singers MUST audition. All agencies, regardless of their reputation, are required to submit singers for auditions, if the singer wishes to be considered for a role. Auditions are very difficult for singers. Most singers do not like auditioning. There is a lot of stress involved, but Artistic Directors understand these pressures. Still, Artistic Directors need to hear the singer's voice live before making a casting decision. Singers represented on CDS and DVDs only spark the interest of Artistic Directors, but the live audition is a mandatory meeting between the singer and the Artistic Director.

The White Nights Opera Auditions is for experienced singers only. The WHOA requires that all singers are under management. (Those singers that are not managed, but still can meet all criteria for the audition, may temporarily secure James Fox Artist Management for management for the course of the WHOA audition.) Further, singers must have preformed professional contracts, have international opera competition experience and/ or work with a professional company. Whereas many of the opera companies invited to the WHOA have young artist programs, this is not an audition for inexperienced young singers.


Each singer will be required to perform a preliminary audition. From this audition we will chose a group of no more than 80 singers for the final audition.  All Artistic Directors will be asked to print comments regarding each singer's audition; this does not mean however that the Directors will comply. We will try to obtain comments for all singers, but we cannot guarantee these comments.  Comments are made the Directors discretion.

In the past we have charged an audition fee for our auditions. Now the audition is fully sponsored, so singers will not be required to pay an audition fee. However, singers must agree to participate in the preliminary auditions and singers will need to pay for an accompanist or bring their own to the auditions.

WNOA Foundation

The White Nights Opera Auditions is now formally organized as a foundation. The foundation is guided by a Board of Directors, comprised of various Artistic Directors from opera companies all over the world. The Chairman of the Board is Dr. Paul du Quenoy and the Chief Executive Director Mr. Peter Fleming, CEO of James Fox Artist Management, LLC.  The purpose of the WNOA foundation is to continue to attract the best Artistic Directors from the best Opera Companies in the world, while providing the auditions at no fee to citizens of the Russian Federation and former Soviet bloc countries. 

Individuals or corporations that are interested in contributing to the WNOA Foundation are kindly asked to contact our offices via email: office@whitenightsopera.com