JENNY LAGE TO PERFORM WITH OPERA COMPANY

Jenny Lage, 21, begins a European adventure today when she boards an airplane and heads for Vatican City.

Lage, daughter of Wally and Dori Lage of Cape Girardeau, will perform in the Operafestival di Roma, an annual event begun three years ago by former Southeast Missouri State University faculty member Dr. Louisa Panou-Takahashi.

Takahashi, artistic director of the festival, served as Lage's vocal instructor prior to accepting a position at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville last year.

"I'm nervous, but very excited," said Lage, a senior at Southeast pursuing a degree in education with a specialization in music. "This is an international festival; people from all over the world will go to this."

Rehearsals for the festival begin Sunday. Lage is scheduled to perform in two operas during the festival: "Suor Angelica," by Pucini, and "I Pagliacci," by Leon Cavallo.

This will be Lage's first trip abroad and her first major musical production. She said friends are very surprised when she tells them her summer plans. "Everyone's very shocked when I tell them what I'm doing," she said. "I can't believe it myself."