Students sing with star

Southern Miss students will perform with world-renowned opera singer Renée Fleming Friday in downtown Jackson. The famous soprano, who has been called the "Voice of the Century" and "The People's Diva," has performed in opera houses all over the world. It was Flemings idea for Southern Miss students to share the stage with her next week.

"Knowing that she chose the program and she invited the students to play in the orchestra and sing, it's sort of an encouragement in a way that this person is investing in the future with these students who are still studying and learning," said Jennifer Hart, the marketing representative with the USM symphony.

To secure the Grammy award winner's visit to Mississippi, Jay Dean, director of orchestral activities at Southern Miss, worked with the Mississippi Opera Association, explained Hart.

"Dr. Dean believes very strongly in bringing in these major performers and giving students this experience," she said. "For this particular event, we're working with the Mississippi Opera Association. We're working with another organization to bring something of this scale and magnitude. It's a joint venture."

Twelve vocalists from Southern Miss and twelve from the Mississippi Opera Association will sing with Fleming, with accompaniment provided by the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra. Lori Birrer, a USM graduate student from Indianapolis, Indiana, seeking a master's degree in voice performance, is one of the twelve that Dean selected.

"I'm just so excited," said Birrer. "I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to see her in person and watch her do what she does best."

Tickets for the concert range from $39 to $129. To purchase tickets, call 1-877-MS-OPERA or visit www.usm.edu/arts.