Three Martha’s Vineyard students were accepted into the prestigious OperaFest 2008 workshops on the Island, and two will be performing arias and scenes from famous operas with up-and-coming young singers from New Jersey on Saturday, July 26, at 8 p.m. at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs.

The Vineyard Students are Rosie Bick, who will sing Cunegonda from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide and Mitch Lowe who will sing in the Torreador Scene from Bizet’s Carmen.

Juliet Benoit, who was to perform Cherubino’s Aria from Mozart’s La Nozze di Figaro, has had to withdraw due to illness. She is much missed by her fellow voice students.

The Claudette Peterson Vocal Studio’s OperaFest 2008 on Martha’s Vineyard is an intensive two-weekopera-training program for exciting, committed young singers from both on and off the Island, in residence in Edgartown, July 13 to 27. The program, directed by Claudette Peterson and her husband, Columbia Artistsbass-baritone David Kline, provides an opportunity for yo ung singers to study all aspects of opera performance culminating in a final, costumed and staged professional performance.

Rosie
Rosie Bick will sing. — unspecified

Faculty includes renowned vocal coach Katherine Olsen, who works with Broadway and film artists, and renowned opera singers Ben Heppner, Renata Scotto, Gary Lakes, Cheryl Studer and Marcello Giordani, director/producer Maggie L. Harrer, music director and vocal coach Ronald F. Land and others.

OperaFest 2008 offers vocal coaching, master classes in all aspects of opera performance from diction to structure and musical phrasing, acting and role preparation, to stage movement and makeup. During the two-weeks, students prepare and rehearse arias and scenes from classic opera, Broadway tunes and art songs.

Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and students. For details, call 508-693-1667.