Distinguished Concerts International - New York

U of A Children's Choir Performing at Carnegie Hall

by Robert Boyd

January 20, 2011

KSPR - Springfield, MO

Singers and musicians often dream their entire lives about performing at Carnegie Hall and for one group of children in Northwest Arkansas the dream is about to come true.

The University of Arkansas Children's Choir is made of the best singers from 20 area public and private schools. On February 20th the top 40 of them will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

"I'm really excited and pumped, my mom is coming, can't wait for her to see me sing there, it's going to be amazing," said Jeanne Abelee Smith.

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"It's kind of one of those moments that you're not going to believe in until it really happens," said Michaela Edwards. "I don't even know how to describe it."

The choir was one of only three children's choirs nationwide to be asked to perform. They will be directed by world renowned composer Bob Chilcott.

Not all the children's songs will be recognizable; some of them will be in different languages, like Latin, French and German.

"It's wonderful multiculturally to learn about these places in the world, learn these new languages and so I have to learn first, they have to learn second," said U of A Children's Director, Candace Davis.

Even though the children are only in grades six, seven and eight, they'll be singing songs usually performed at the high school level.

"As of now I'm not really nervous, when I get on Carnegie Hall I'm not sure how nervous I'm going to be," said Edwards.

In between the bright lights of Broadway these children will also have a few days to enjoy the city. For many of them it's their first trip to the "Big Apple."