After months of “practice, practice, practice,” the LHS Chorus will be performing in the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in Manhattan on April 14. Arranged by Chorus Teacher Barry Wyner, the trip will provide students with an opportunity to perform alongside other choirs from across America in the same venue that legendary artists such as Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, and Jay-Z have performed in. Also, they will have the ability to receive constructive criticism from a group of nationally recognized master clinicians during the rehearsal process.

The trip will begin on Friday, April 13, when the chorus will travel to Queens College to perform in front of the panel of clinicians and another choir. This performance is open to any guests who wish to attend and will be followed by both an hour-long clinic and a workshop with established composer Jake Runestad. The following day, the chorus will travel to Carnegie Hall, where they will perform alongside the rest of the participating choirs and have the chance to be showcased during the course of the concert. The concert will be concluded with the world premiere of a piece written by Jake Runestad. Guests are encouraged to attend, and Lynbrook families will receive a discount code for tickets.

The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall has members of chorus, their friends, and their families ecstatic. Freshman Victoria Donovan says, “I’m really excited for the trip. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall. I’m looking forward to meeting other choruses and performing.” Junior Benjamin Gagliardo says, “I am most looking forward to the view of the Hall from the stage. I know that will be awesome.”

However, it is Wyner who was best able to put into what this experience will mean for many: “We have to remember that some of our students will pursue the performing arts, but for most students in our music program, they go on to other careers and they don’t get the chance to perform for six hundred people. They don’t get that feeling when your heart’s racing, and you’re staring into the bright lights, and you know that certain people are out there, and you hear the applause. For most people, this is the last stage of their lives to get that experience… and this is going to be that experience at Carnegie Hall.”