Emily Wilhelm got a little taste of Broadway right here in the heartland.

The Mason High School sophomore recently won a local competition earlier this month to portray “Christine” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.” The competition, held at the Fitton Center for the Arts in Hamilton, was part of a master class taught by Broadway legend Franc D’Ambrosio, who portrayed the “Phantom” over 2,000 times.

“I heard about the master class/audition for ‘Call for Christine and Raoul’ from CinStage.com, which lists local auditions,” Wilhelm said. “There were a little over a dozen girls and guys that attended. I was actually one of the youngest.”

Competitors were required to come to the master class with two songs prepared — “All I Ask of You” (one of the actual “Phantom” duets), as well as one other song of their choosing but in a similar Broadway style. Wilhelm chose a song from the musical “Oklahoma” called “People Will Say We’re in Love.”

Finalists received voice and acting instruction from D’Ambrosio, and the winners were announced at the end of the master class. Wilhelm and her “Raoul” counterpart joined D’Ambrosio on stage during his concert the following night at the Fitton Center. They also got the opportunity to rehearse with the Broadway legend at the sound check, two hours before the show.

“Franc worked with Peyton (Raoul) and I, giving us pointers and tips. At the sound check on the day of the show, we choreographed the song and practiced the duet,” Wilhelm said. “I can’t say enough how kind and helpful Franc and his musical director Mike Tilly were. I still can’t believe I had this incredible opportunity with the longest running Phantom…a Broadway legend in my mind. Peyton and I sang the duet after Franc introduced us and watched proudly as we performed it on stage.”

Wilhelm can add this experience to her performance resume. Her love of musical theater began at age 9, when she performed with local community theater organizations such as Acting UP, Lebanon Theatre Co., Cincinnati Christian Community Theatre and Children’s Theatre of Mason.

“The first time I was on stage and felt the energy and overall excitement from performing for a live audience I was ‘hooked’…I loved it!” Wilhelm said.

Since entering high school, she has performed in numerous productions with the theater department, winning an Orchid Award for her role in “Tom Sawyer.” She also had the opportunity to share the stage at The Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, with another Broadway legend — Sandra Joseph, who is the longest running Christine from “Phantom of the Opera.” Her next performance will be in Mason High School’s production, “Macbeth.”

Wilhelm hopes to make a future in theater. “To sing some of the greatest music ever composed in opera houses around the country and around the world sounds like a pretty good ‘gig’ to me. To do what one loves for a living and for me that’s to sing and act, doesn’t get any better than that.”