BHS Choir Performs at Carnegie Hall
Published March 30, 2017
Not many high school students can say they performed at Carnegie Hall, but members of the Brentwood High Choir can.
In total, 70 BHS choir students traveled to New York City from March 23-27 to demonstrate their vocal prowess on one of the most historic and famous stages in the nation.
Brentwood High was one of just two high school choirs in the United States to be invited to perform Schubert’s Mass in A-flat under the direction of Dr. David Rayl, director of choral programs at Michigan State University.
“We received an invitation based on reputation and placement during competitions, said BHS Choir Director Natalie Pratt. “We were then required to submit recordings proving we were up to the challenge of this huge endeavor.”
It was the second trip for Pratt to visit Carnegie Hall as a representative of Brentwood High School. She also sang on the historic stage as a student when BHS first performed there in 1999.
To prepare for the biggest performance of their young lives, students were required to rehearse twice a week since October to learn the music.
Upon arriving in New York, the students also worked diligently during strenuous four-hour rehearsals, sound checks and a dress rehearsal.
“The trip was incredibly rewarding because the students worked so hard prior to the trip to learn the music,” Pratt said. “This repertoire is definitely collegiate level and the hardest music we have performed at BHS.”
Outside of their performance, students had the chance to visit some of the sites around the city including the September 11 Memorial.
Pratt said that she enjoyed seeing the sights of the city, but nothing could compare with the sight of seeing 70 of her students sing at Carnegie Hall.
“I was beyond proud to see my students on stage at Carnegie,” she said. “I wanted to provide an opportunity for them to perform at a premier venue with a professional maestro, instrumentalists and soloists. My hope with this performance was that students would see beyond BHS and realize the immense opportunities that are obtainable with hard work and passion.”