From April 3-7, Aliso’s orchestra will have the privilege to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall for their 20th Annual New York Invitational Music Festival. The opportunity has not been open to Aliso in decades, making it an exciting event that the orchestra has looked forward to all year.
The Annual New York Invitational Music Festival at Carnegie Hall was initially founded to allow students from around the globe to perform in one of the most prestigious concert venues while fostering musical growth. The event not only serves to give students an unforgettable experience of performing in a hall famous for its beautiful acoustics and rich history, but it also gives them invaluable feedback from professional adjudicators.
In order to join, schools must audition. Mr. Chen, the Instrumental Director of Aliso, noted that he remembered participating in the event as a student after receiving an email to apply.
He said, “I had [gone] when I was in eighth grade, and now… I still remember it really clearly because it was such an amazing experience.”
His fond memories ultimately pushed him to apply, which consisted of submitting recordings of the orchestra’s performances from each level — String, Advanced, and Chamber Orchestra. Aliso’s acceptance allowed every orchestra level to attend.
Due to limited seats, a group of 30 students will attend the event, departing on April 3 at John Wayne Airport.
On April 4, the Orchestra will have two notable activities. One is a workshop with Festival clinician Cynthia Johnston Turner; she is a highly respected conductor who has years of experience in her art. The second is a rehearsal with the multi-award-winning composer Amy Scurria, who was commissioned to compose a unique piece for Aliso’s orchestra called “The Music We Build Together.”
Students were also able to contribute to the composition of the piece by working with Scurria during her visits to the school.
On April 5, the orchestra will have its first performance outdoors, but the main performances are on April 6 where Aliso performs twice: an adjudicated concert and a showcase concert. The program includes “Danse Bacchanale” by Camille Saint-Saens, “In the Company of Angels” by Wiliam Hofeldt, “Finale from Symphony No. 2” by Emilie Mayer and “The Music We Build Together” by Amy Scurria.
In between performances and workshops, however, the company running the event also provided a special itinerary for the orchestra to follow around New York.
This includes a tour of the 9/11 museum, a visit to the Statue of Liberty, seats to the Broadway show “The Great Gatsby,” an excursion to the Rockefeller Center and a ride on the Festival Dinner Cruise at the Chelsea Piers.
Besides what the itinerary has planned, students also requested activities during the built-in free time that weren’t covered in the itinerary.
Overall, students are delighted to be able to attend the voyage, and they have been especially excited about the performance hall itself.
Ananya Kota (11), a violinist in the Chamber Orchestra, commented, “I feel like it’s such a cool [occasion] because it’s not an everyday opportunity unless you’re incredibly skilled. So I think it’s just really cool that they have opportunities for students to be able to actually experience what it’s like to perform at such a prestigious stage.”
It was built in 1891 with special masonry techniques, giving it acoustic features unique to it that enhance the music played within. Carnegie Hall has hosted the performances of countless virtuosic musicians, composers, and societal figures in its halls, and even today, famous musicians such as Hilary Hahn and Hayato Sumino continue to play there.
