The panel for the second Genesis Opera Project met in August 2003 and selected a semi-final list of six projects for the workshops in 2004, having begun with an entry of 210 projects. The semi-final short list included: Hippocampus or Lonely; The Original Chinese Conjuror; The Tramway Conductor of Venice; The Umbrella; Push! and Sante and Augustine (as the work was then known).

In 2002-03, as part of celebrations to commemorate the composer Robert Schumann, the Genesis Foundation presented a series of concerts at St John’s, Smith Square, in London. The artistic director behind this series was the pianist Eugene Asti, the the series was an opportunity to give young, developing opera singers a platform to show off their skills as lieder singers.