Musicians – Opera for the Very Young

Kerfuffle is seeking a clarinetist and a vibraphonist for the workshop rehearsals and performances of an untitled Opera for the Very Young, to be rehearsed and performed at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct, Glencoe, IL 60022.

Since 2024, Kerfuffle has been developing an opera for very young children that captures and amplifies the grandness of our everyday lives. Conceived and musically directed by Veronica Chamberlain, the piece will be composed by Gillian Rae Perry and co-directed by Ashley Laverty. Taking place in and around an intimate yurt dome tent, the opera explores a story of a day from sun up to sun down with live music, song, improvisation, and sensory experiences for young audience members.

Kerfuffle will hold open rehearsals throughout the development process and invite families with children ages 1-3 to experience the opera. By partnering directly with very young children, the creative team will see what resonates with them and what they respond to. There will be four workshop performances in March.

The ideal candidate enjoys playing music for and alongside very young children. They are enthusiastic and passionate about experimenting and exploring new compositions. Musician should be excited to collaborate with another musician and a singer. Applicants of all identities are strongly encouraged to apply, including BIPOC, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and those at the intersections of those identities.

Compensation: $700.00 stipend
As Kerfuffle grows, we’re actively working towards paying artists a living wage. The stipend was calculated at a rate of $17/hour for approximately 41 hours of rehearsal + performance time. This stipend will not change if less rehearsal hours are used.

How to submit: Please email at least one video of you playing your favorite classical piece of music. If you have additional videos of you playing with other ensembles, we’d love to see it! Email it to ashleylaverty@kerfuffletvy.com.

About Kerfuffle: Kerfuffle is an award-winning midwestern theatre and dance company devoted to creating aesthetically and emotionally engaging performances for children ages 0-6 years old. Founded in 2015, Kerfuffle centers young children as major creative partners in the development of new work and shares playful, multi-sensory performances in museums, libraries, parks, and other nontraditional spaces. Children’s imagination is at the center of Kerfuffle’s process. In order to understand what engages, delights, and surprises children, Kerfuffle’s plays are developed through creative drama workshops where young people create stories, characters, and worlds in collaboration with adult artists. Kerfuffle is a registered 501(c)3 organization and is the 2020 recipient of the Zeta Phi Eta-Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children’s Theatre Company Award through the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. www.kerfuffleTVY.com