Leah Partridge will perform with the Augusta Symphony Jan. 12

The Augusta Symphony, under the direction of Donald Portnoy, will present "Diva on the Rise," featuring Lincoln County native Leah Partridge.

The "Masterworks Concert" is set to take place Saturday, January 12, at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Augusta.

In addition to Mahler's Symphony No. 4, the soprano will sing "Ah! non credea mirarti...Ah! non giunge" from "La Sonnambula" by Bellini, "Je veux vivre" from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet," and other arias. The orchestra will then take center stage for Puccini's "Capriccio Sinfonico."

Tickets are $25, $40, and $50 and can be purchased online at www.augustasymphony.org or by calling 1-706-826-4705. Full-time students and military personnel with a valid I.D. may purchase tickets the evening of the performance for $7 each. The concert box office opens at First Baptist at 6:30 p.m.

As a special treat, Partridge is inviting all of her Lincolnton friends to attend a reception in the First Baptist Church Activities Building, immediately following the concert.

A 1993 graduate of LCHS, the talented musician earned a Bachelor of Arts in music performance from Mercer University in Macon and a master's degree in music from Indiana University in Bloomington. In addition, she has completed course work for a doctorate in music from IU.

Some of her career highlights include:

.. Two seasons as a participant in The Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program for Singers.

.. Winner of the Palm Beach International Vocal Competition, one of the most respected vocal competitions in the world.

.. Winner of The Metropolitan Opera National Council's Southeast Regional Finals.

.. Winner of the Opera Birmingham Competition.

.. Named a resident artist for the 2003-2004 season of The Florida Grand Opera where she performed the roles of Violetta in "La Traviata" (Verdi); Gilda in "Rigoletto" (Verdi); and the title role in "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Donizetti).

Reporting on her performance in "Lucia di Lammermoor," The Sun- Sentinel wrote: "The charismatic singer has undeniable star quality...her precise notes and subtle acting wedded pyrotechnics with dramatic truth in a way few artists can accomplish."

.. Performed with the Chicago Opera; the Boston Landmarks Orchestra; the South London Philharmonic Orchestra; the Palm Beach Opera Company; the North German Philharmonic in Rostock, Germany; and the Gibraltar Philharmonic Orchestra.

.. Debuted with the Atlanta Opera as Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville."

.. Sang Handel's "Messiah" with the Atlanta Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the San Diego Symphony. She returned to Atlanta for a performance titled "Bernstein's Broadway," which featured some of Leonard Bernstein's greatest stage music.

.. Served as the understudy to the famous French soprano Natalie Dessay, who performs with the Paris Opera.

.. Portrayed the role of Roxane in David DiChiera's world-premiere opera, "Cyrano," with the Michigan Opera Theater.

As for the future, Partridge will make her Metropolitan Opera debut as the First Niece in a new production of Britten's "Peter Grimes." Fortunately for family and friends in Lincolnton, the opera is part of the Metropolitan's new series that is being aired in movie theaters across the country and the world.

"Peter Grimes" can be seen locally on Saturday, March 15, at the Augusta Exchange 20. For curtain time, call 1-706-667-9713. The live performance can also be viewed on the cable channel "On Demand."

For tickets, visit the Metropolitan Opera's website at www.metopera.org.

Prior to her debut with the Met, however, Partridge will be featured on Georgia Public Television's (GPTV) "State of the Arts" series. The program will air on Channel 20 on Wednesday, January 30, at 9 p.m.; Thursday, January 31, at 12 a.m.; and on Sunday, February 3, at 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.

During the 30-minute program, Partridge sings arias from some of her favorite operas as well as talks with GPTV's Pam Roberts about growing up in Lincolnton and her path to the operatic stage.

Although she performs at opera houses all over the world, this "Diva on the Rise" makes her home in Georgia.

After graduate school and three years roaming the world and living out of a suitcase, Partridge decided to move back to Macon. "I had to come back to Georgia. It's where I find I can relax and enjoy myself the most. Here, I am close to family and friends, and I have a nice home, not some small apartment in a huge city."

As she gets reacquainted with her Georgia roots, nothing would please Partridge more than to see friends from Lincoln County at her Augusta concert. All are encouraged to come to First Baptist to hear this worldclass soprano, who will always remain grateful for having grown up in a wonderful town like Lincolnton.

"Diva on the Rise" is being sponsored by the MCG Health System, Eugene and Lucille Fleischer, AT&T The Real Yellow Pages, Clear Channel Radio, and The Augusta Chronicle.

Partridge is the daughter of Irvin and Jan Partridge of Lincolnton and the granddaughter of Melvin and Etheridge Partridge, also of Lincolnton, and the late Fortson and Janet Scott.