The second Long Leaf Opera Vocal Competition will be held Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Paul Green Theater in the Center for Dramatic Art on the UNC campus.

This event is free and open to the public.

Long Leaf Opera held its inaugural vocal competition in 2006 as a way to encourage young vocalists to pursue their art form.

For this year's competition, more than 60 vocalists from 22 states competed during the first round by submitting CDs or tapes of their performances.

The field is down to 10 finalists, who will sing Saturday in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. Cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 will be awarded, along with an opportunity to perform in a future Long Leaf Opera production.

The finalists, all under the age of 35, will be judged on technical and musical interpretive abilities, stage presence and professional attitude by a panel of voice and music professionals.

Each vocalist will perform three English-language selections.

Judges include international opera star Christine Weidinger, (performing with Long Leaf Opera this summer as Regina Giddens in Blitzstein's "Regina"); Robert Chumbley, former director of the Cleveland Opera; Robert Galbraith, former director of the Opera Company of North Carolina; Alfred E. Sturgis, principal conductor of the Carolina Ballet; Louise Toppin, professor of voice at East Carolina University; Randolph Umberger, artistic director of Long Leaf Opera; and Benjamin Keaton, music director of Long Leaf Opera.

Audience members will also have an opportunity to choose their favorites by ballot vote.

"Sharing music, expressing a story through a character wrapped up in the moment is why we all perform operatically," said finalist Ted Federle, a master's degree student in vocal performance at UNC-Greensboro. "Of course the prize money is great, but the best part is a guaranteed role in a future Long Leaf production. The event's panel of judges is renowned and helps young singers like us network."

The 10 finalists for Long Leaf's 2008 National Vocal Competition are:

• Emily Ezzie, soprano, Md.;
• Ted Federle, baritone, Ohio;
• Daniel Holmes, tenor, Va.;
• Lori Lind, soprano, Va.;
• Jacqueline Noparstak, soprano, N.Y.;
• Marcy Richardson, soprano, Fla.;
• Julie Celona-VanGorden, soprano, N.C.;
• Marcella Smith, soprano, Ind.;
• Krista Leigh Wilhelmsen, soprano, S.C.;
• Heikyung Yu, soprano, N.C.

Long Leaf Opera will hold its 10th anniversary season June 11-29 in Chapel Hill.

Main stage productions will be presented at UNC's Memorial Hall. They include: "Regina" by Marc Blitzstein (June 13 and 15); one-acts "Medusa" by William Bolcom and "The Medium" by Gian Carlo Menotti (June 20 and 22); "Orpheus and Eurydice" by Ricky Ian Gordon (June 27 and 29); and "The Glass Hammer" by Jorge Martin (June 28).

Other events will be held in Garrard Hall on the UNC campus. They include: "Three, Two, One, BANG!" an original opera for teens by Justine Chen (June 11 and 12); "Intimate Cabarets" by Marc Blitzstein and Kurt Weill (June 14 and 21); "A Water Bird Talk" by Dominick Argento (June 24); and "Secret Agent," a work in progress by Michael Dellaira (June 26).

Tickets are on sale at (919) 843-3333.