That telling moment came to mind Tuesday night (6/8/99), when the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus strutted its considerable stuff before a capacity audience at Reno's Lear Theater. They were all wonderful. Any youngster would be proud to be one of them.

Under its new conductor, Kris Engstrom, the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus, comprised of kids from 4th to 8th grades, has blossomed from a fine stand-up-and-sing singing group into an energized collection of youngsters who obviously adore their every moment in the limelight.

Not only does each member of the chorus sing like an angel, they perform like seasoned troupers. Engstrom has the knack of making stars out of every person on stage (they all have solo moments), while creating a show that moves with a launched-into-orbit speed that endears and entertains with every song, dance step, verbal setting and instrumental interlude along the way.

The concert's dramatic flair could not be more in tune with the opera business. Great music, in this case an evening of Broadway show tunes, and fine singing, splendidly trained young voices, plus a keen sense of theater and marvelous timing are the stuff of which operatic dreams are made. Engstrom is the wizard who makes it all work and she's extraordinary at what she does.

She also knows that it takes an exceptional accompanist to make her kind of presentation come together, then stay together. Pianist Andrea Lenz accompanied. Her contributions to the program's success - accurate, musicianly playing with a charmed ability to support young artists - cannot be overstated.

The very thing that made the program so thrilling (the starring involvement of all 54 singers), also makes it difficult to write about without omitting the stellar work of many rising young stars. But space, even on the internet, requires some shortcuts in the name of prudence.

These performers are on my short list of up-and-coming young entertainers:

The delicate singing of Mary Gilbert and Katie O'Gorman were perfect matches for "Where Is Love" from "Oliver." Shanan Fisher's rendering of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" ("Evita") was smooth, in all ways top-notch - and haunting. Drawing from Broadway's longest running show, "Cats," Heather Foxwell did a first-rate job of capturing the feeling of nostalgia that drenches Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory." Tate Jorgensen was a standout with his singing of "All I Ask of You" ("The Phrantom of the Opera") as was Duncan Burke's dramatic and translucently pure singing of "Bring Him Home" ("Les Miserables").

That hymn to the Depression, "Tomorrow," was given the kind of wallop it needs by belter to-be Liza Engstrom. "On My Own" ("Les Miserables") was plaintively managed by Malary Engstrom. Ainsley McPherson's lovely interpretation of "I Dreamed a Dream" was as poetic as Claude-Michel Schonberg's lyrics. Last, but certainly not least, Chrissy Coffman's upbeat intro to the program's closer, "Give My Regards to Broadway," was done with the kind of my-name's gonna-be-up-in-lights determination that could actually - someday - send some of these talented gypsies-to-be to the Great White Way.

"Kids on Broadway" was delightful in every way.

For information regarding the Nevada Opera Youth Chorus and future Nevada Opera performances and events call 775 786 4046.