Oxford beckons for talented young singer Sally Wilson. She will perform in a prestigious opera this summer on the lawn in front of the city's New College.

The part of Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro marks 16-year-old Sally's first role in a professional opera. She will perform with New Chamber Opera Company, which is affiliated with Welsh National Opera, seven times over a two-week period beginning on July 12.

Sally, of Nab View, Silsden, is a familiar face on the local amateur stage following roles for Glusburn Youth Theatre and as principal girl in the last Keighley Amateurs pantomime. For the past four years she has been a member of Yorkshire Opera Shop, a combined school and performing group, after being "discovered" by its leader Pamela Cotton.

Sally's ambition is to become a professional opera singer, and next year she hopes to begin a six-year course at one of Britain's top music academies. She won her latest role after the original performer dropped out and her name was put forward by someone who knew she was suitable. Sally's mother Lynn says her daughter was invited at a day's notice to travel to Oxford for a special audition, and was offered the role. Traditionally the role is one of a handful the opera company offers to an Oxford undergraduate, who is given a chance to perform alongside its professional cast. Lynn says: "It's quite a large role. Sally has an aria and five or six other pieces to sing. She's very happy because this is what she wants to do. She'll get to meet all the big-wigs - it's a very lush thing, champagne receptions and picnics on the lawn, black tie a lot of the time."

Sally is currently studying for A-levels in music, music technology and drama at Nelson and Colne College.

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