On March 17, the EHS Choir performed at one of the most famous stages in the nation: Carnegie Hall. Located in New York City, this concert venue has hosted many famous performers, including Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springston. The choir, alongside others from San Fransisco and New York, performed “Breath of Life,” a 35-minute piece written by Dan Forrest.
This performance was the first-ever opportunity for students at EHS to perform in Carnegie Hall. Furthermore, this once-in-a-lifetime occasion allowed students to meet experienced choir members from across the nation, cementing an unforgettable high school memory.
When the news spread that they were going to be performing at Carnegie Hall, many choir members were surprised.
“It was really shocking, and I could not believe I had such an amazing opportunity,” said Josiah Albania ‘27, a singer in the Chamber ensemble.
“It is a first-time experience in EHS history,” said Thomas Trobliger ‘26. “Just to be on that stage to sing where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have performed and looking into that crowd for the first time was breathtaking.”
For others, the news did not hit at first but rather did later when they were about to perform.
“At first, the fact that we were going to Carnegie Hall didn’t click, but when it finally did, that was insane,” said Xavier Chung ‘27. “I was really excited and a little nervous, but stepping onto that stage was what really set it in for me.”
With excitement in the air, many felt that they had to take this opportunity and make the best of it. It is also important to recognize the preparation that went into this event, as the choir conquered many challenges in making it to the hall. Alongside mounting the pressure to perform in Carnegie Hall, it was a difficult task to master “Breath of Life.” Divided into four movements, the choir worked on the piece for two months. The help from Edison High’s own choir director, Josh Lisner, allowed the choir to be productive during the rehearsals. His efforts and hard work allowed the choir to match the level of the other choirs. Focusing on articulation and singing with emotion were two major problems the choir encountered during their time learning the piece.
However, leading up to the performance, many were comforted with the help of the chorus members outside of EHS. For instance, the teaching and assistance of guest conductor Dr. Heather J. Buchanan that allowed the choir to enhance their singing. Working with a fast-paced and determined mindset, she helped in their preparation for the performance.
“Dr. Buchanan had a different approach to this work,” Albania said. “She made sure everyone worked to their full potential and made sure everything was perfect.”
Initially, many faced difficulty in adapting to her approach during the choir’s two rehearsals with her.
“Personally, Carnegie Hall was challenging preparation-wise because of the fast-paced rehearsal,” said Chung. “In comparison to in class rehearsals, the talented Dr. Heather J. Buchanan moves quicker but with the same and even more efficiency. It was a change that we all had to adapt to.”
Furthermore, it was also a challenge to manage time as well. Traveling back-and-for
th from Edison to New York for three days was a lot for the choir students, as it took a lot of energy and time from them.
Nonetheless, the experience and journey to the day of the performance paid off. Ultimately, many members of the choir learned valuable lessons from this significant trip.
“Carnegie Hall taught me that not everything is given to you. It is important to understand taking responsibility for what I personally need to work on and take note of is number one rather than being told what needs to be fixed,” said Chung.