![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,2000,1335,2000,1200/0-0-0/4e7c0c5f-f594-46d3-ac74-b4ba2fd86412/1/1/unnamed.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=f11238f4f32e98f6eaf6a66e60af22138723df98ad3f5f24c166120c5d2571b8)
We’ve all been there: sitting on the edge of your theatre seat, completely engrossed in the show and transported to another time and place. You are singing in your head. The songs, the music, the costumes are so magical and enchanting. For the last three years, Liz Brooks gets to live out her dream every day — as a full-time chorister at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/dbc47f65-2152-494a-8062-667e5ac521de/1/1/unnamed-2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
I was able to follow her for the day, experience her daily life and witness behind-the-scenes magic of what it’s like to be an opera singer.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/cfb9aa0d-b4c8-47f8-9ea4-e5bc703dfd3f/1/1/unnamed-3.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
Performing six days a week, 170 performances a season, Liz and her cast mates live and breathe opera.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,799,974,1600,974/0-0-0/5816affe-dfbf-497c-9a9b-de645f5bbfba/1/1/unnamed-5.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=1aa4e798a54e50d3a14c1f4de04b0c297926fc3f34425475e46a5a0d1bdd9cb5)
Liz has rehearsal in the morning and afternoon, five days a week. In the evening, the company prepares for one of the 25 performances they have memorized for the season. Today, they are rehearsing Otello and performing Roberto Devereux in the evening.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/883331f8-ebbf-468d-9075-4c00451420db/1/1/unnamed-4.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/5558b455-466f-43e0-b449-060bd2b701a3/1/1/unnamed-7.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
There are 80 full-time members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus. The majority of the singers in the group have bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees in vocal performance from major conservatories and universities worldwide.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/3847d7c9-68e5-4880-a905-22f8d14374fa/1/1/unnamed-6.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
“I have a lot of favorite parts of my day,” Liz said, “including the moment when I first walk into the stage door entrance at the beginning of my day and rehearsing with my fantastic colleagues, who I love and respect.”
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/75af6c55-68d3-4594-b0f2-c38a0ca26d8f/1/1/unnamed-10.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/a1c73f38-8a20-41de-8b4b-dec089aa67a6/1/1/unnamed-15.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/ff2051b3-41b0-4393-8954-3f9deaf57d89/1/1/unnamed-17.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,1198,1600,1198/0-0-0/41d544ff-f98e-4176-929e-c16b50be1459/1/1/unnamed-16.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=c598f1309e2650659f4ea9dd27b7627472d8e50764e7d5064bcb2a602474e515)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/1d7b7c11-9ba8-4fc6-b4f1-0839909cbf88/1/1/unnamed-18.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/ae60a108-d3e5-4d43-bb47-d326fbca106f/1/1/unnamed-23.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,527,800,1200/0-0-0/f93244e4-a10f-4c52-9aef-94f28bacf1a6/1/1/unnamed-22.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=dce877ab3d7d26db15b8d035c7cee32388de3d513491215048334a01fbc6e141)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/e7b2fbe9-4047-49d6-a9f1-42dfd6986a77/1/1/unnamed-8.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
This is the backstage dressing room for the entire chorus. There are rows of cubbies filled with memories, rehearsal schedules and pictures of family and friends.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/5673400f-73c9-4d01-ade9-1dbd53ec5f11/1/1/unnamed-12.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,1198,1600,1198/0-0-0/94d92651-ffcc-4f8d-af74-82994fe4c8b6/1/1/unnamed-13.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=c598f1309e2650659f4ea9dd27b7627472d8e50764e7d5064bcb2a602474e515)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,450,800,1200/0-0-0/006c7b70-64d8-44ee-b6e1-051f03690791/1/1/unnamed-20.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=2323887e3e0795f2bc95996e482bf37f552608be0a0273f6577e2868ece6915d)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/0a9d2250-2b84-47f3-8a23-f46b495f95bd/1/1/unnamed-19.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
Liz and her fellow choristers have a strong friendship and bond. They live and breathe opera every day and appreciate their amazing dream job, which they all worked so hard to achieve.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/5d2fd0ec-70c5-4ad1-aae5-9d27a698beeb/1/1/unnamed-9.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
“I warm up in the mornings but not very often. It only takes a few minutes because I’m continually warmed up from singing for many hours each day,” Liz said. “I also take lessons with my teacher, Mark Oswald. It’s important to keep my voice in shape throughout the season.”
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/9eea82a8-bb88-45e3-b445-53c0a1e85e99/1/1/unnamed-24.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/55753737-89c6-48d4-ab81-14281dcd46a1/1/1/unnamed-21.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/5210d74c-df88-4bc7-b884-f073d91b8578/1/1/unnamed-1.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/719c0088-fa22-4eec-88b3-eaae9b73f87a/1/1/unnamed-14.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,534,800,1200/0-0-0/f3d29c54-88d1-45d0-8b5f-fc82d507cc02/1/1/unnamed-11.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=35c2e9f9a9c9fdaa37bd72cf8d8bcec1f2e93cd62c6444a9b65a40b0a5748871)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/174943da-5c19-491e-bff5-a6eebf418f22/0/0/0/0,0,800,912,1600,912/0-0-0/605e1378-a7cd-451d-8839-2744ee7e1638/1/1/unnamed-25.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037469016~hmac=a3bd7bad31d91659167889fb13544ba432243fa19039c783755a8c0999ccabc3)