By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The quickest way to Carnegie Hall may be practice, practice, practice, but for some Canal Winchester Middle School Choir members, it could be a much shorter route to the world famous concert venue.
Choir Director Cyndi Murphy received notice in September that the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall was opening up its program to middle school students and invited her to nominate participants from the local choir.
The Canal Winchester Middle School students nominated to audition to perform at Carnegie Hall are: sixth grade: Grayson Dunbar, Colin McGillivary; seventh grade: Bonnie Butler, Elaine Koons; eighth grade: Drew Adams, Aujolie Baker, Jaevohn Bradley, Hanna Hall,Wren Jackson, Allison Kuck, Alex Mobley, Anna Ratliff, and Akira Walls.
“I sent in the names and then Carnegie contacted our students and asked them to submit their application, resume and an audition recording,” said Murphy. “They’re going to be individually recorded locally by Theo Jackson, who has a private studio. The number of students selected to perform is dependent on their audition and the number needed for the Carnegie choir or one of the ensembles.”
A panel of judges, including award-winning choral composer and arranger Greg Gilpin, will review the applications, select and assign students based upon voice requirements. Notifications will be finalized by mid-March 2016.
“We have to pick a good song to show our range,” said nominee and 8th grader Anna Ratliff.
Murphy said the field is wide open as to what students can select as their audition piece, which will include a live piano accompaniment. She is stressing the need to her young charges to keep the music simple enough so as to not “fluster” them.
Students selected to participate in the five-day program in New York City will study under master conductors, interact with other middle schoolers from across the globe, tour Big Apple attractions and perform on the Carnegie Hall stage.
“It’s such a huge place,” said Ratliff, “I never thought I might have the opportunity to perform in a place like that.”
Fellow nominee and star of the middle school’s “Seussical: The Musical” production, Jaevohn Bradley, said his mother was excited when she learned of her son’s nomination.
“I’m really excited to go to New York City and see a Broadway show,” said Bradley, who portrayed the Cat in the Hat in “Seussical” and Sebastian in “Little Mermaid.”
While it takes much practice to get to Carnegie Hall, it also takes a lot of money. The application fee paid by each nominee was $295. If they are not selected, the fee—minus $10—is returned to the student. If they are selected, the cost (including the application fee, airfare, etc.) is $1,749 per participant.
“We’re going to start a fundraising drive right after the first of the year,” said Murphy, “and also ask if there is anyone or any organization interested in providing a scholarship or making a pledge to help offset the cost of the trip for a student. We’re not taking any money right now, just pledges of interest and hoping some of the organizations around town will think about helping our kids. This is the first time something like this has happened in our middle school.”
For information about supporting choir members and their efforts to make it to New York City and sing on the Carnegie Hall stage, contact Murphy at (614) 828-4939.
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