Two students will head to Carnegie Hall this summer for the Honors Performance Series, which gathers some of the world’s young rising musicians to learn from renowned conductors.
Selected student artists meet in New York City for several days of rehearsals before their life-changing performance at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, according to the Honors Performance Series website.
Students also gain invaluable networking opportunities with their peers as well as experiencing the sights and performance arts of the city.
Seventh grader Grace Shibayama, choral student, and eighth grader Charlotte Ring, orchestra student, were both selected for the program.
The Honors Performance Series has a 30% acceptance rate and the auditions are screened by professional musicians, making their acceptance no small feat. Only 210 students out of 700 applicants were selected.
Shibayama said she “couldn’t believe it” when she learned of her acceptance, and Ring was shocked because she didn’t think she’d be selected.
Ring expressed that she’s often self-critical, but that this opportunity boosted her confidence that she’s worthy of programs such as these.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I’m super excited,” said Ring.
Shibayama said she’s excited to learn from successful musicians, learn more about the music industry, and focus more on her voice this summer.
“I feel like I’m going to learn a lot about my voice and working with other people and learning more about the music industry, which probably includes instruments also, which will be very interesting,” Shibayama said.
Ring mirrored this same excitement, explaining she’s excited to learn from her peers and conductors.
“I know there’s going to be some very amazing and talented people who I’m going to be playing with in the orchestra, and I hope I can learn from the people around me, and also, I hope to improve a lot more with the amazing conductors they’re going to have,” Ring said.
“I just want to learn what it’s like to play on a big stage, an important stage, in case that is something that happens to me in the future when I’m older,” she continued.
Both students hope to work in the music industry when they’re older — Shibayama as a singer and Ring playing in an orchestra, specifically the Nashville Symphony, she said.
Both girls have been practicing their craft since elementary school. Interesting enough, they performed together at Cascade Elementary School’s talent show, just shortly before they came to Webb.
“I played violin, and she sang, and now, we’re going to New York at the same time. I think it’s really cool,” Ring said.
The students were nominated by their performing arts teachers — Shibayama by Tyler Shaw and Ring by Susan Mullen. Shaw and Mullen helped the girls prepare for their auditions.
“I nominated Grace for this opportunity because I think she’s at a level in her musical ability that she’s able to sing at a different musical level than her peers,” Shaw said. “I think it’s important for her to advance her musical ability. From there, we also worked together to choose the right song for her voice for her audition.”
Ring chose her piece with her private instructor, and then came to Mullen to help her refine her performance.
“She just asked me to help her polish it up and make it truly submission worthy, so she put in a lot of extra time working with me,” Mullen said.
Shaw and Mullen explained they are excited for their students to grow their music abilities while being surrounded by renowned conductors and hundreds of their talented peers in the Big Apple.
“I think Grace will gain a deeper appreciation of the choral music industry in getting to work with a larger ensemble,” Shaw said. “It’s an ensemble of 210 participants, so getting to sing with that many middle schoolers at the same time, all at the exact same level, I think will be a really enriching experience for her.”
Mullen expressed similar thoughts, “Everytime you’re exposed to a new conductor and new people who love to play the instrument as much as you do, it’s really motivating, and you really see your role in the world of music.”
She continued, “Playing in such a small school and a small region, you feel a little bit isolated, and so her playing in New York City in Carnegie Hall, one of the most famous concert halls in the world, just hopefully will open her eyes to see the possibilities she could have for her future in music.”
Congratulations Grace and Charlotte for being selected for such an incredible opportunity!