Imagine: The towering levels of velvety red seats look down upon you, gracefully illuminated by the glow from the lights. You are standing on stage, taking everything in– from the warm acoustics to the audience gazing up with anticipation to the peers around you who are as equally excited to perform. This was the experience of the band and choir, who received the rare opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. Performing on the same stage that so many prolific musicians before them have performed on, it was now the NVOT music department’s turn to make history.

On April 1 and 2, the band (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band), Encore Chorus, and Orchestra went to Carnegie Hall to perform a collection of pieces that had been practiced for a couple of months. This was the first time the music department performed at the world-renowned concert venue and Choir teacher Jonathan Meszaros said, “I do not believe that the music department has been given this opportunity. Ms. Wilcox and I were planning a trip last April and had mentioned that we’ve received information to go to Carnegie, and it seemed like a great opportunity for the students.”

Junior Borah Kim, who performed in the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, said: “The reason why this year’s music department had this amazing opportunity to perform at such a prestigious concert hall was thanks to our preceding reputation. From my knowledge, the 2025 NVOT Wind Ensemble made countless breakthroughs as we performed at the State Gala after a stunning gold-rated performance at the Region Festival.” 

Performing at the State Gala is a selective opportunity, as it is only offered to a select two bands in the entirety of New Jersey. The music department’s audition group was one of the two, performing Astra by Katahj Copley and Give Us This Day by renowned composer David Maslanka. “Ultimately, the success of the preceding Wind Ensemble set this year’s one up for immense opportunity,” Kim said. “After the blockbusters that were those two pieces, Ms. Wilcox cleverly picked pieces for our Carnegie Hall [performance] from the same two composers. Hymn for World Peace and Iridessi were extremely challenging, yet rewarding pieces to perform at Carnegie Hall.”

The orchestra performed in the morning half, while the other groups performed in the evening half. Kim said, “We got to have an official sound-check on stage and feel out the sheer beauty the acoustics of the hall had to offer. NVOT’s auditorium doesn’t hold a candle to the gorgeous way Carnegie Hall blends sounds together.” 

Sophomore choir member Courtney Cohen said “It was so amazing, the acoustics were phenomenal and being on stage was such a different experience compared to being in the audience. It felt so unreal, during soundcheck, I almost cried! If I could do it all over again, I 100% would!”

The soundcheck, especially, elevated the surrealness of the experience for the performing students. “I think for a lot of us, the reality of how prestigious that stage is only settled in once we went in for the soundcheck,” junior Cara Kim said. “The resonance of the room is INSANE and being the performer, you could literally hear your sound echoing as it reached the other side of the theater. When we were off the stage and in the audience, the best way I can describe what it sounded like is the difference between listening to music on bad earbuds vs. a JBL speaker. Although, performing on it was much different than listening to the other groups and rethinking that moment, in my opinion, it is such a beautiful feeling (the architecture of the theater makes it so much more so).”

Additionally, the choir took part in an hour-long workshop, where they worked with a professional singer based in Virginia. The group had a sound check, was provided dressing rooms, and performed 20-minute sets of music. “Being on stage at Carnegie Hall is something not a lot of people can say they’ve done, especially in high school,” Meszaros said. “The prep for it puts you in a different mindset when you know you are given such an opportunity. It was inspiring. There is a reason it’s world-famous.”

Sophomore Christian Kang, who performed in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Choir, said, “First off, this field trip was a valuable opportunity for the students and the whole music department to experience performing in one of the world’s most famous concert halls. Also the whole group got the opportunity to view how good other schools were (there were more [schools] than our school there).”

The experience held personal significance for Kim as well. She said, “I’ve only ever played at Carnegie one other time for a piano recital years ago. Going back felt like such a cyclical way to look back on my journey as a high school musician and I’m sure it felt equally surreal to the other students. Even though I don’t see music in my career, spectating how the staff and officials at Carnegie Hall operated felt extremely professional and it opened my eyes to how musicians take their jobs to the next level. The performing arts are so nerve-racking and I have huge respect for those who want to pursue such a thing.”

The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall was a special, impactful experience for the music department. Senior Lucas de la Cruz said, “Performing at Carnegie Hall was such a wondrous experience that is so hard to describe with words. Being surrounded by such a large crowd and the amazing architecture overloads you with emotions. There is no other place like Carnegie Hall.”