Plainfield North Choir Takes the Stage at Carnegie Hall

Caption: Choirs of America Nationals at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Plainfield North High School choir students enjoyed a “once in a lifetime experience” when they got to perform on stage at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 27.

The PNHS Tour Choir, made up of 50 voice ensemble students from all seven PNHS choirs was invited to perform at the Choirs of America Nationals based on their achievement at several regional and national competitions.

While in New York, the students took part in an adjudicated performance and clinic with University of Michigan Choir Director and Grammy Award-winning American choral conductor Jerry Blackstone.

All of the invited choirs also performed three selections under the direction of Florida State University Professor of Music and Director of Choir Andre Thomas. The students helped premier a new work written specifically for this event by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo.

“This is literally a once in a lifetime experience for these students,” said PNHS Choir Director Jason Hawkins.

“The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious stages in the world, is the pinnacle of accomplishment for any musician, and the young musicians in the PNHS Choirs have made it there while they are in high school,” he said.

“As a director, I am extremely proud of what we have built in the PNHS Choir Program, and this tour is a testament to the dedication of the music students at North,” Hawkins said.