CHAM classes
The pupils of the Maîtrise all follow their schooling in one of our partner public schools, with an adapted timetable. Each week, they spend part of the day in school lessons and the other part in artistic training: on average 5h30 a week for the pre-maîtrisiens, 9h for middle-schoolers and 11h30 for high-schoolers.
The partner public schools, located in Paris, are as follows:
- Tanger B Elementary School (Paris 19th) – primary cycle
- Collège François Couperin (Paris 4th) – middle school cycle
- Lycée général Henri-Bergson (Paris 19th) – general high school cycle
- Lycée professionnel Abbé-Grégoire (Paris 5th) – vocational high school cycle
Cartes des écoles de la Maîtrise Populaire de l'Opéra-Comique
Training at the Maîtrise Populaire rests on two complementary pillars: multidisciplinarity and stage work.
The multidisciplinary teaching is provided by a team of 13 teachers. The pupils take classes in tap, choral singing, vocal technique, piano, dance and theatre, following active pedagogical methods, in particular the Dalcroze method, which links music and movement. This approach develops a sense of rhythm, body awareness and self-confidence, while encouraging swift mastery of the artistic fundamentals and of collective work. It enables pupils to engage very early in major stage projects, including on national stages.
This training is not limited to the acquisition of technical skills: it helps to build confidence, autonomy and the ability to thrive within a demanding collective.
A week at the Maîtrise is organised around this balance between artistic teaching and academic schooling:
The second pillar is stage work. Each season, the maîtrisiens take part in the Opéra-Comique’s productions, as well as projects led by partner institutions, in France and internationally. These experiences confront them with the demands of live performance and the reality of professional work.
The stage thus becomes a true pedagogical tool. Each performance marks a step in the pupil’s journey, revealing their artistic and personal progression. It is within this space of demands, transmission and collective effort that the young people learn to listen, to persevere and to affirm their voice.
Academic monitoring and pupil support
The Maîtrise Populaire teams work closely with the partner schools and the families in order to support the success of every pupil.
A schooling team ensures the link with families, lead teachers and school administrations. Individual meetings are held regularly to support each pupil in their progression, their needs and their choices of orientation.
The wellbeing of pupils is at the heart of our support. A partnership with the Troisième Rive association ensures the monthly presence of a psychologist on site, who receives pupils in full confidentiality and arranges external follow-up if needed.
The Maîtrise Populaire is also committed to the prevention of sexist and sexual violence, through specific training for the teams, the appointment of a clearly identified referent accessible to the pupils, awareness workshops for the maîtrisiens, and the systematic presence of a referent adult at every production.
Les coulisses de La Grande Affabulation, spectacle 2025 de la Maîtrise Populaire
The strength of diversity
From its very creation, the Maîtrise Populaire was designed as a meeting place where young people from very different backgrounds could come together around a shared artistic project. Open to all, it welcomes pupils whose relationship to music, the stage or cultural practices may be very different.
This diversity is an integral part of the educational project. The teaching is built to allow each pupil to progress, whatever their starting point, while developing a strong collective dynamic. The lessons, rehearsals and performances teach the pupils to work together, to listen to one another and to find their place within a demanding and supportive group.
Over the years, the differences in pathways, personalities and experiences become a true asset for the collective. They nurture the group’s creativity and contribute to building the troupe spirit that lies at the heart of the Maîtrise.
To make this diversity possible, the Maîtrise has set up a twofold and complementary recruitment process: families can register their child for the auditions, but the team also reaches out to pupils in schools across Île-de-France through its discovery programme of opera and its recruitment tour. This system allows young people who would not have spontaneously turned to this kind of training to discover choral singing and, for those who wish, to join the Maîtrise.
Apply to the Maîtrise
Each year, two-round auditions allow motivated young people to join the Maîtrise, with no prior level required. What we are looking for? Potential, motivation and the desire to take part in a collective project.
You can find here the rules as well as the practical information guide for the auditions of the Maîtrise Populaire.
Auditions are organised every year. Registrations for the 2026-2027 intake are now closed. Check back on this page for the 2027-2028 auditions.