University of Mary Washington’s Department of Music will hold auditions for its annual summer Operafest on Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Pollard Hall, Room 304. Students who wish to audition should prepare an operatic aria or a classical song. An accompanist will be provided.

The Operafest program, now in its 13th year, is a performance-based class for serious singers of all voice types who want to expand their repertoire in opera or gain on-stage performance experience. In the fast-paced, five-week course students will learn scenes from various operas with staging and costumes. The course will culminate with opera performances on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium.

Rehearsals will be held over the summer on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning on Monday, May 21. Operafest can be taken as a three-credit course or audited for $300. Members of the community as well as UMW students are encouraged to audition. For more information about Operafest or auditions, call (540) 654-1012.