The members of the Incubator Scheme have to audition for available positions. Upon acceptance, they receive vocal coaching, music theory lessons, as well as various skills development classes on a daily basis. The ultimate goal is not only to qualify the singers professionally, but also to allow them to develop sufficiently to take up positions in the permanent Ensemble. During their three-year apprenticeship in the Incubator Scheme, they get the opportunity to perform at concerts and the major productions of the Ensemble, affording them valuable experience on stage as well as an opportunity to earn an income. Similarly, the Technical Incubators receive exhaustive hands-on training in the logistics of producing and managing a full-scale production, encompassing each aspect of the process. They have the opportunity to apply this knowledge to all BTE productions, and so to earn an income while becoming specialists in their chosen field. Antoinette Olivier is responsible for music theory tuition, with their vocal coaching and repertoire development being handled by Eric Muller and Louis Botha. Willem Luitingh acts as repetiteur for the Incubator programme. Piano lessons are given by Beppie Beerneart.

Under the watchful eyes and positive effort of Neels Hansen, Mimi Coertse, and the coaches, the Incubators have developed enormously in the past years, and have proved not only that they can become capable professional performing artists, but that they can develop into thinking, responsible artists who are passionate about the art form they study. This is truly a serious investment in the future of South African performing arts.