Algonquin Arts soon will feature its annual Rising Stars performance and competition on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

The event will showcase 11 classical music students, both vocalists and musicians, who were selected through a competitive audition process that spans all 21 counties in New Jersey, according to a press release from the Algonquin Arts Theatre.

This year’s 11 finalists are John Caliendo, 16, from Point Pleasant; Evangeline Athanasiou, 15, from Lincroft; Ashley Grant, 17, from Point Pleasant; Zachary Miller, 17, from Marlboro; Christa Dalmazio, 15, from Leonardo; Nicolette Mavroleon, 17, from Freehold; Adeline Lee, 15, from Princeton Junction; Alfred Califano, 16, from Sea Girt; Kevin Lin, 16, from Tenafly; Ashleigh Smith, 16, from Howell; and Liliana Ma, 17, from West Windsor.

Each finalist will have a unique opportunity to go to lunch with two professional classical music mentors and learn from their craft, Algonquin Arts said. This year’s mentors are Maestro Fernando Raucci, an international music conductor, and Brett Colby, an international operatic tenor.

Mr. Raucci has professionally conducted in the United States for the past six years and had prior conducted in Europe, according to the press release. Most recently, he opened the 2008 summer season at the Opera of New Jersey. Also, he spent three successful years as assistant of the American Symphony Orchestra, at Lincoln Center in New York City, with Leon Botstein.

Mr. 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 country with companies such as Virginia Opera, Anchorage Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera, Opera Illinois, Connecticut Opera, Midland Symphony in Michigan, Westfield Symphony in New Jersey and Green Mountain Opera in Vermont, among others.

Tickets to the Rising Stars event are free; reservations are required.

To reserve tickets, contact the box office at 732-528-9211, send an e-mail to boxoffice@algonquinarts.org, or visit www.algonquinarts.org.

The box office is located on Main Street, here, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.