The Realization of a Dream: Dade County Chorus Performs at Carnegie Hall
Photo courtesy of Dade County Chorus – The Dade County Chorus performs with schools from across the country on the Carnegie Hall stage.
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Gabrielle Haston (DCHS/DMS director of choral activities) recalled first visiting Carnegie Hall 14 years ago and praying that one day, her Dade County students would perform on that stage, the stage of one of the most renowned concert venues in the world. On April 5th, that dream came true.
Haston said, “I put my hand on the stage and said a prayer hoping that one day my students would stand on that stage to sing. April 5th was the realization of that dream. I watched my kids truly realize what this moment meant, and when I asked them to pick a word to describe what they were feeling, they used words like ‘incredible,’ ‘surreal,’ ‘ecstatic,’ and ‘magical.’”
The dream first came within reach when the Dade County High School Mixed Chorus received a personal invitation to Nationals for Top Choirs through Choirs of America and Harmony Tours. Haston often receives invitations to competitions and events, but this one stood out because it was in New York City and included performing at Carnegie Hall.
As Haston explained to the Dade County Board of Education, “Carnegie Hall…is a perfect acoustic venue to sing in. There is not a corner in that room; they’re all curves, so when you sing in that space, the sound melds all together to give this beautiful, heavenly sound.”
After raising funds for the costly trip, our students spent April 3rd through 8th traveling to New York City, performing in front of judges, participating in a workshop, performing with a mass choir, watching a Broadway production, and experiencing many of the sites and delights of New York City.
In Sophomore Rock Chaney’s words, “It was really the pinnacle of my career. I’ve done a lot, but this? The most amazing experience of my life.”
Senior Jack Dupree reflected, “It meant a lot to me to be able to have one of my final performances with Dade be at Carnegie Hall, like it was the grand finale of my high school choral experience.”
Photo courtesy of Dade County Chorus – The Dade County Chorus completed a performance evaluation at Lefrak Concert Hall at Queens College, scoring 92 out of 100.
Senior Lucy Bowden agreed, “As a senior, no other experience could top this one. I’m beyond grateful that I was able to be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The chorus’ evaluation performance was on April 4th at Queens College’s Lefrak Concert Hall. They performed four songs in front of world class music educators at the college. Haston reported, “They received outstanding comments by the judges on their performance and were given an overall score of 92 out of 100.”
That day, they also participated in a workshop with composer/conductor Andrea Ramsey, a Broadway 101 workshop with actor David Thomas Brown, and a choir exchange with music educator Dr. Coty Raven Morris alongside other high school choirs from California, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana. During the exchange, Dade County performed for the other choirs, singing songs taught by Morris, and they met and talked with singers from the other choirs.
The following day, April 5th, is when the choir stepped foot on Carnegie Hall’s stage as part of a mass choir, directed by Rollo Dilworth. The final piece of the evening was written specifically for this concert. This was the world premiere of the piece written by Rosephanye Powell and based on the Langston Hughes poem, “Dreams.” Fitting the theme of Haston’s Carnegie Hall dream, the poem reads:
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Freshman Zack Zeller explained that the evening was filled with emotions, saying, “New York was exciting and joyful, but the thing that meant the most to me was all of us crying and comforting each other after Carnegie Hall.”
Also adding to the week’s excitement, the students were in the city when a 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit nearby in New Jersey. They did not even notice the earthquake, but Haston reported back to parents that all was well with the group.
Photo courtesy of Dade County Chorus – The Dade County Chorus poses in front of the Statue of Liberty. Their music-filled New York City trip also included visits to the 9/11 Memorial, the Museum of Natural History, Central Park, and more.
On Saturday, April 6th, the Dade County crew attended a performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Hadestown,” which is based on the Greek myths of Hades, Persephone, Orpheus, and Eurydice.
Haston said, “The students were absolutely captivated by the staging and the actors’ performances. To top it all off, as we met up to walk back to the hotel, we got to meet Phillip Boykin, the bass baritone singer who portrayed Hades! He was so kind and took pictures with all of the students.”
The groups’ exploration of New York City included visits to the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial, the Museum of Natural History, Central Park, the Top of Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and tasting classic New York style pizza and bagels.
Sophomore Nayla Smith reflected, “Getting to go to New York and sing in one of the most prestigious concert halls in America with my bestest friends is a dream come true. Making music is what I’m called to do, and I’ll never forget all the beautiful musicians I got to make it with.”
Freshman Delaney Van Veldhuizen added, “Going to New York City as a freshman was a dream come true, an experience I will never forget!”
Enjoy the talents of the Dade County Chorus for yourself at the Spring Concert on May 2nd. The performance (with no charge to attend) will be held in the Dade County High School auditorium at 7 p.m.
