High School Students to Perform at Carnegie Hall

For the second straight year, will host the when they preview their Carnegie Hall concert on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2:30 pm.

The concert will feature the music of Tim Janis, composer, musician, conductor and arranger, who has performed throughout the United States and abroad, as well as a tribute to pop artist, Darlene Love, a 2011 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Love’s career spans over five decades, and has included backup singing performances for artists such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys and Tom Jones, as well as an extensive career as a solo artist.

Springfield’s relationship with Tim Janis can originally be traced back to employee, Bill Atwell. Atwell, a long time Tim Janis fan, had the opportunity to meet her several years ago and mentioned the music program at Springfield High School. Earlier collaborations between Janis, Cooper and Descano involved performances by smaller groups of instrumental and choral students on several New Jersey Network (NJN) public television programs.

Last year, the trio teamed up to work with a collection of some of the Philadelphia area’s finest student, along with local music educators and private instructors. After a very successful concert at Carnegie Hall, they were eager to return again this year. This year’s orchestra features both new and returning members.  In addition to the orchestra, the tour will once again feature a large concert choir during its performances. Springfield High School is contributing 41 members to the choir performing at Carnegie Hall. 

“I am very excited to go back and perform again at Carnegie Hall," concert organizer Kevin Cooper said. "With our first concert last year, I think I was so nervous that I forgot to look around and let it all sink in. I am especially happy to have the new members of the group experience this thrill for the first time."

"A highlight for me, Susan Descano and our Springfield contingent is the opportunity for two of our students, James Cella and Bridget Yingling, to perform as vocal soloists with the orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

"As a music educator, we strive for our activities and assessments to be authentic and based in the real world. Having to prepare a concert to the level required to perform at Carnegie Hall and then to actually go and perform there, is about as real as one can get!”

The Carnegie Hall concert is Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through the Carnegie Hall box office at 212-247-7800. The preview concert at Springfield High School is on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available for this performance.

For more information, contact carnegiepreview@yahoo.com.