The famous answer to the question of how you get to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice.
Permian High School Varsity Choirs have been doing just that and are set to perform at Carnegie Hall March 17.
The choirs were invited by MidAmerica Productions and the groups are led by Director of Choirs Laurie Wash.
There are 60 students participating in the Carnegie Hall performance.
The students are excited about traveling to New York.
“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of them,” Wash said.
The invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall came in during the last school year. The have been preparing since October.
“They’re wonderful,” Wash said of the students. “They are beautiful singers. It is a joy to make music with them. We are excited about our collaborative artists that will be playing with us as we sing during the concert on Monday night. Eric Baker has gathered brass and timpani musicians for us and they will be playing with us. Gayle Bizzell will be playing with us and there are other collaborative artists that are also playing with other choirs during that same concert.”
At Carnegie Hall, the students will perform with orchestra members.
“I’m so greatly looking forward to that. They need to have those experiences working together with other kinds of musicians to make music. It’s just incredible,” Wash said. “We are just so honored to have the opportunity to sing in that space.”
While in the Big Apple on their five-day trip, they will see some Broadway musicals.
“That will be a wonderful thing. We’re excited they’ll get to do that,” Wash said.
Executive Director of Fine Arts Aaron Hawley said they are incredibly proud of the Permian choir for their upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of our students and teachers. We are appreciative of all the hard work of the students and teachers to prepare for such a momentous performance. Go MOJO!” Hawley said.
