FARMINGTON # A Vassalboro woman has been selected as the solo performer for this year's annual Nordica Day celebration in Farmington, named in honor of Lillian Nordica, the internationally known opera diva from Farmington.

August 17, 1911 was the day Nordica performed for the last time in her hometown. That day has since been known as "Nordica Day," thanks to the efforts of the Nordica Memorial Association, an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of her career.

Two events will highlight's this year's celebration that falls on this Sunday.

An open house with free admission and refreshments will be held at the Nordica Homestead Museum on Holley Road on Sunday, two miles north of Farmington on Route 4. The other is a recital featuring soprano Stephanie Gilbert of Vassalboro, a voice performance major at the University of Southern Maine.

Gilbert placed first in her division for the past two years in the state auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is also performing in this summer's PORT-opera production of Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" in Portland. She is the daughter of Stephen and Susan Gilbert of Vassalboro and is a graduate of Winslow High School.

Gilbert's Nordica Day recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall on the University of Maine at Farmington campus -- the same hall in which Nordica performed her final concert in 1911. There is free admission since the concert is a gift to the community from the Nordica Memorial Association.

Her performance will include pieces by Mozart, Richard Strauss and Amy Beach to the accompaniment of her teacher, Bruce Fithian.

For information, call 778-2042.