Two Months to Carnegie Hall

Lots of singing is ahead for 's Select Singers. The twenty students were recently a part of the concert at the high school, will be rehearsing for the annual musical, and can finally begin preparation for their upcoming trip to Carnegie Hall.

The singers will join six other schools from Florida, New York, and other states on May 1 in New York City. Burlington was selected after the select chorus sent in audition tapes. Junior Stuart Gelin remembers when he found out they had been chosen in December. 

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I told Mr. Middleton that we had to go."

This is the first year that Burlington High School has been invited to participate in the festival. Mahattan Concert Productions runs the program, called the Octavo Series. 

John Middleton-Cox, the teacher in charge of the Select Singers, will have to take an observer's role once his students arrive in New York City. Dr. Allen Hightower of Luther College will be leading the rehearsals and the performance. 

Middleton-Cox isn't worried about his students' success, even though some of the pieces are difficult. They include classical, gospel, and contemporary music, and one of the pieces is in Latin. 

"We spend a lot of time learning to read music, and these are some of the most advanced sight readers I've ever taught," he said. 

"We have to start practicing the music here," said senior Amanda Harrigan. "All six songs have to be memorized by the trip."

Before the performance on Sunday evening, the Burlington's singers will rehearse with the other invited schools on Friday and Saturday.

"Some of us have sung with people we've never met before," said Gelin. He and Harrigan have participated in district competitions, but for many of the singers, singing with a large group of strangers will be a new experience.

Of course, performing at Carnegie Hall, one of the most renown venues in the world, will be a unique experience for all the singers. The hall seats over 2,800 people, and the hall itself is much larger than their usual concert space.

"We're going to have a big set, a big stage, and a really big sound," said Gelin.

The trip won't be solely focused on the performance. The singers will be able to see a Broadway show, and after the performance on Sunday night, they will take a harbor cruise with the other performers.

The students had to get the trip approved by the town and by the school, and are grateful about how easy it's been to gain support.

"[Principal] Larkin has been enthusiastic about it from the beginning," said Harrigan.

Cost has been the biggest obstacle in getting the singers to New York City, but their vigorous have helped. The entire trip, including transportation and lodging, was originally going to cost almost $1,000 per students. The Music Boosters contributed a significant amount, but the rest of the money has been raised by the students.

"We put together the benefit concert in a month," said Zaven Ovian, another singer. They were able to sell over 100 tickets to put towards the trip. Their movie night and raffles have also earned money. Middleton's group, the New England Tenors, have also been involved in fundraising. Some of the singers went to a recent show to explain their trip and were successful in gathering donations. They will also be canning outside of various stores in Burlington. 

Though they've come a long way in reducing the costs, they are still seeking donations and are grateful for any help. Interested local businesses or donors can contact John Middleton-Cox at the high school, or the music boosters at bhsmusicboostersassn@gmail.com.

For pictures and a video from the Ides of March concert, click .