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Algonquin Arts Theatre will continue their annual Rising Stars music performance and competition on Wednesday, November 17^th with two concert times to choose from - 2pm and 7pm. This event will showcase eleven classical music students comprised of both vocalists and musicians, selected through a competitive audition process that spans across all twenty-one counties in New Jersey.

These final eleven performing artists will have the opportunity to perform on stage for their friends, family, and community at the Rising Stars concert. This year's Rising Stars program has been generously supported by The Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation. Following the concert, each finalist will have the unique opportunity to have lunch with two professional classical music mentors and learn more about their craft. The mentors this year are Maestro David Wroe, an international music conductor, and Brett Colby, an international operatic tenor.

Maestro David Wroe has experience both as a Music Director and as a recipient of guest conducting engagements with a variety of respected international orchestras. Mr. Wroe is the Music Director of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra of New Jersey, Teatro Grattacielo of New York City, a regular conductor at New York City Opera, and Principal conductor at New York University. He has earned awards such as a citation in the United States Congress for community commitment and was a finalist in the 1^st Bernstein International Conducting Competition.

Brett Colby has toured the United States and Europe, interpreting character roles in the operatic repertory, as well as making appearances in musical theatre, film, and radio. Mr. Colby's signature roles include Goro in Madame Butterfly and Basilio/Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro. He has performed these roles throughout the U.S. with such companies as Virginia Opera, Anchorage Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera, Opera Illinois, Connecticut Opera, Midland Symphony (Michigan), Westfield Symphony (NJ) and Green Mountain Opera (VT), among others. Engagements this season include: The Narrator (The Rocky Horror Show) with ReVision Theatre of Asbury Park, Goro (Madame Butterfly) with El Paso Opera, and a solo concert at Algonquin Arts Theatre on February 12, 2011.

The 2010 Rising Stars include: Nicholas Andrej of Paterson, Margarita Cabrera of Paterson, John Caliendo of Point Pleasant, Brandon Eng of Holmdel, Reesha-Ann Martin of Paterson, Nicolette Mavroleon of Freehold, Sara Munson of Rockaway, Nicole Rowe of Annandale, Claire Tsiporukha of Morganville, Aline Vartanian of Paramus, and Andrew Winans of Howell. Also this year Christa Dalmazio of Leonardo, co-winner of Algonquin Arts Theatre's Gong-A-Thon 2010 and former Rising Star, will perform as a guest artist.

Tickets to see the Rising Stars live at Algonquin Arts Theatre are $15 for adults and seniors and $12 for students and children. To reserve tickets, contact the box office at 732-528-9211 or email [email protected], or visit www.algonquinarts.org. Box office hours are Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Algonquin Arts Theatre is located at 173 Main Street in downtown Manasquan, NJ.

Algonquin Arts Theatre was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization to provide cultural enrichment and educational enhancement of the highest quality for the residents of New Jersey's central region. Algonquin Arts Theatre is handicap accessible. Assisted listening devices are available upon request. Please notify us in advance of your needs by contacting the box office. Programming of Algonquin Arts Theatre is made possible as a result of the continued philanthropic support of private citizens and organizations such as New Jersey State Council on the Arts, OceanFirst Foundation, PNC, Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Target, The Community Foundation of Monmouth County, The Paul F. Zito, MD Foundation, Manasquan Savings Bank, Woman's Club of Brielle, Janice Blanton, Jules Plangere III, as well as many generous individuals and local businesses. This season is sponsored in remembrance of Marialana and her love for children and the arts.