TWO SOUTHEAST STUDENTS, PROFESSOR GOING TO ROME

Two students and one faculty member from Southeast Missouri State University will journey to Italy next month to participate in the Rome Festival Opera.

Students Donna Smith of Cape Girardeau and Laura Pierce of Poplar Bluff and the music department's Louisa Panou-Takahashi will perform at the festival during most of the month of July. Panou-Takahashi is the assistant director of the Rome Festival Opera.

The three will provide a preview of their performances in a recital Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church. Ryan Kasten and Susan Ho will provide accompaniment. The 3 p.m. recital is free.

The festival presents chamber music, opera, orchestral, solo and jazz performances nightly in the courtyard of Collegio Romano at Piazza Collegio Romano. Most of the musicians, who are both college students and faculty members, come from the U.S.

Both students were required to send audition tapes to New York before they were accepted for the festival. Smith, a junior whose parents are Larry and Alice Smith of Cape Girardeau, and Pierce are close friends.

Both had their first operatic experience this spring in the university's production of "H.M.S. Pinafore."

"It's my first time overseas and singing in a professional setting," Smith said.

In Rome, Smith will sing the role of Pamina in Mozart's "Magic Flute" and Pierce will sing the part of one of the three spirits. Pierce, who is also a percussionist, will play in the Rome Festival Orchestra.

They also will sing several recitals and opera galas with the orchestra. Their program Sunday reflects what will be expected of them in Rome. It includes operatic numbers by Verdi, Beethoven and Mozart, along with songs from "Kiss Me Kate," "My Fair Lady," Showboat" and "Sweeney Todd."

A graduate of Cape Central High, Smith is a music performance major who wants to be a professional opera singer when she finishes at the university.

Pierce will pursue a degree in music therapy.