VIVA ROMA : YOUNG PALMDALE CELLIST ITALY-BOUND.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Eleven-year-old cellist Bronwyn Banerdt of Palmdale is going to Rome next month for a musical and cultural adventure of a lifetime.

Bronwyn has been invited to participate in the Young Artists in Rome program as part of the 25th annual Rome Festival, which is dedicated to furthering cultural exchange and introducing American artists to European audiences.

``I'm excited about going to Rome, for one thing. I went to France once, and it's a different feeling. I think Rome is pretty much the same way,'' Bronwyn said. ``I'm really excited about the musical experience too.''

The Young Artists program is designed to give upper-level high school and college musicians a chance to study music and perform in the historical setting of Rome. Bronwyn will be the youngest musician there.

Bronwyn's invitation came about with the help of her teacher, Joyce Geeting of Canyon Country, who has performed in Rome and knows festival music director Fritz Maraffi, Bronwyn's parents said.

``What Fritz Maraffi did was tailor the program to suit her because of her age,'' said Bronwyn's mother, Mavonwe Banerdt.

To prepare for her Rome trip, Bronwyn and Geeting will present a free recital, ``An Afternoon of Cello Music'' at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 24436 Valley St., Newhall.

Bronwyn will spend two weeks in Rome under the supervision of Geeting, who will be a guest artist and teacher with the festival. Bronwyn will be a member of the cello section of the Rome Festival Orchestra, performing several concerts, including a full staging of Mozart's ``The Magic Flute.''

She also will be featured in a public concert as a guest artist, which is unprecedented for the Young Artists program because of her age.

``It's very rare for someone her age'' to participate in the festival, Geeting said. ``I thought it would be fun for Bronwyn to come and experience the history and culture.''

In addition, Bronwyn and other students will take part in cultural enrichment activities, touring Roman ruins, museums and other sites, and will study with prominent American and European artists.

One stop for sure will be the Vatican. Bronwyn's younger sister, Rhiannon, had wanted to buy a book on the papal residence but it was too expensive at $40. ``My sister made me promise to take pictures of the Vatican,'' Bronwyn said.

Sunday's program will include performances of ``Suite No. 1 for Cello'' by J.S. Bach, and other pieces by Popper, Schubert, Boccherini and Schumann. Bronwyn and Geeting will be accompanied by pianist Michael Sushel.

To offset costs of Bronwyn's trip, donations are being accepted. For more information, call Bruce Banerdt at [phone] or Geeting at [phone].

Bronwyn, who gets her schooling at home from her mother, a former Antelope Valley College physics laboratory instructor, has studied cello with Geeting for the past six years.

She has played for two years in the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra. For the past three years she has played in the California State University, Northridge Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, where she holds the position of principal cellist.

Awards Bronwyn has received include those from the American String Teachers Association, the Young Musicians Foundation, and the Los Angeles Violoncello Society.

She performed last summer at the Texas Music Festival in Houston, and has been heard locally in Southern California on radio station KUSC. In addition, this year marks the fourth year she has performed with the Disney Young Musicians Symphony.

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Photo: (color) Bronwyn Banerdt, 11, will be the youngest mu sician in the Young Artists in Rome program.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News