My Best Day!

On April 20th, 2019, I conducted the Olathe East HS Orchestra performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City!  We performed Saturday evening at 7:30pm.  The day before, we gave a preview performance outdoors at Lincoln Center a 10:00am.  These performances were part of a 5-day visit to NYC with 45 students and 14 parent chaperones.  

During our visit to NYC, we also had the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, take in the sights of the city at sunset from the top of the Empire State Building, shop in Times Square, tour the 9/11 Museum, see a Broadway Show, and much more!  

To prepare for this incredible experience, my students began fundraising a year before.  I selected music by Mozart, Genzmer, Sibelius, and Vaughan Williams.  We began rehearsing these pieces in August of 2018 to ensure we would be ready for such a prestigious honor.  This honor was given to us by an opportunity to submit an audition to the National Band and Orchestra Festival through WorldStrides OnStage Performances.  As soon as we were accepted, our students were ecstatic! 

Although the time required in planning and rehearsal was intense and exhausting, the moment we performed on stage at Carnegie Hall made it all worth it.  My students were amazed at the acoustics of the hall, and gave an outstanding performance.  I couldn’t have been more proud of them.  For me, it was a huge accomplishment and honor to conduct my students in such a magnificent performance venue!

Michael H.