Wiles Elementary School Chorus performs at Carnegie Hall

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

NEW YORK CITY – Students from the Kimball Wiles Elementary School Wildcats Chorus and their music teacher/director Carrie Olson have recently returned from a memorable trip to New York City that included their performance at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall.

The Wildcat Chorus performed with top youth ensembles from across the country as part of the Manhattan Concert Productions (MCP) Festival Youth Series. Nationally-recognized Guest Choral Conductor Emily Ellsworth led the ensemble in the performance of several pieces for the MCP festival concert, entitled LUX .

This was the Wiles Elementary Chorus’ third performance at Carnegie Hall since 2017. Chorus members included Jaime Alford, Claire Olson, Juniper Parker, Jacoby Rasher, Tessa Traum, Aubrielle Vetsch, and Chelsea Zou.

The performance repertoire included a diverse array of musical styles and languages, including Latin, Macedonian, and even some Portuguese. After an audition that included 50 students ranging all the way up to high school seniors, Wiles 5th-grader Juniper Parker was selected to perform in a small ensemble on Haydn’s “Regina coeli” during the concert.

“The students embraced the challenge of this repertoire with enthusiasm, demonstrating their versatility and commitment through diligent rehearsal,” said Director Olson.

Besides performing themselves, the Wiles students were in the audience for performances by the Masterwork Festival Chorus with the NYC Chamber Orchestra and the Reddam House Umhlanga College Choir from South Africa.

The students also had a chance to explore cultural and historic sites in the city, including the Statue of Liberty, the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, and Times Square. They even saw the award-winning Broadway musical Wicked.

“It was an honor for the students to perform on the stage and in the hall revered as a sacred space by musicians worldwide,” said Olson. “This trip will shape their appreciation for music and cultural exchange for years to come.”

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