One of the most important things any singer can learn is good technique, said John Camuso.

Good technique helps singers sing well into advanced age, and, in Camuso's case, resume serious singing after not singing for some time.

"It will always be with you and it's something you can always go back to. It allows you to stay fresh and to stay young," said Camuso, a Hermitage resident who will sing the lead tenor role of Alexander for Opera Circle of Cleveland in three performances of Mozart's opera "The Shepherd King."

Camuso, 52, grew up enjoying music, chemistry and physics. While he took singing lessons in elementary and high school, sang in church, and studied music in college, he had only passing thoughts about singing professionally.

"The education sort of won out as to what puts the food on the table," said the assistant principal for Brookfield High School. "The music was something to enjoy."

As his career as an educator bloomed, Camuso sang very little. But, about 20 years ago, he became music director at a Poland, Ohio, church and made singing part of a routine.

"It took awhile to get the voice into shape," he said.

Camuso started with breath-control exercises and took refresher voice lessons.

He also recalled the technique he had learned from Dr. C. Wade Raridon at Youngstown State University and Eileen Davis at Ohio State University.

"You start stimulating the old muscle memories so they get used to what they're supposed to do," said Camuso, who earned master's degrees in voice from OSU and educational administration from YSU, and a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Ohio University.

Now a cantor and voice instructor for cantors at St. Charles Catholic Church, Boardman, Ohio, Camuso joined Opera Circle about two years ago, when he was referred to pianist Jacek Sobieski when looking for an accompanist for a charity concert.

Sobieski and his wife, Dr. Dorota Sobieska, both natives of the country of Poland, founded Opera Circle, which champions the lesser known works of known composers.

Camuso sang in "I Puritani" in November 2000 and "Letters of Love" last May.

"The Shepherd King," a comic opera, is considered the last of Mozart's early operas, said Camuso, who counts his wife, Stella, as "one of my biggest fans."

In the fictitious country of Sidon, the ruling family has been deposed by Alexander the Great, and he looks for an heir to the throne to rule the country. The rightful heir, a son of the king, is a shepherd who is not aware of his bloodline.

Alexander seeks to unite the shepherd with his family members, but the plan disrupts the romantic intentions of some of those involved.

Although set in mythological Greece, "The Shepherd King" was first performed in 18th century costume, which is how Opera Circle will present it.

The opera will be sung in Italian with supertitles projecting the translated lyrics above the stage, and accompanied by an orchestra the size of which Mozart specified.

The set will be small with few props.

Camuso said he thinks "The Shepherd King" should be better known as a whole, and for its arias.

Mozart was 19 when he wrote the comic opera, which does not have the large ensemble vocal pieces that his later works do, relying on arias and duets.

It also does not have an overture that can stand on its own as a concert piece, Camuso said.

"Musically, it's as complex as his mature operas," he said. "It's not juvenile. The music is quite delightful."

Camuso said singing, even on the side, requires a lot of work and can be a demand on his time.

But it's worth the effort.

"It's a nice diversion to what I do everyday," he said. "I'm very pleased I've been able to balance them both."