Karson Smith has been selected for
the 2020 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Karson will
perform in February with the High School Honors Symphony Orchestra.
Participation in one of the five Honors Ensembles is limited to the
highest-rated high school performers from across the world.
She auditioned for the Honors
Performance Series earlier this year and was recently accepted after a review
by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result
of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in her application and
audition recording. Karson was selected from among thousands of applicants and
nominees.
Karson has played the cello since
fourth grade and has participated in the Broome County Music Educators
Association (BCMEA) festivals and completed New York State School Music Association
(NYSSMA) performances since sixth grade. She also took part in Ithaca College’s
Summer Music Academy (SMA) in 2017, and is a member of a Vestal High School
string quartet that performs in the community.
Karson will join students from 47
U.S. states, several provinces of Canada, and six other countries for a special
performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle
of musical achievement. The finalists will come together in New York City for
five days in February. They will have the opportunity to learn from
world-renowned conductors, work with other finalists, and get a taste of New
York City. Two performances, an Honors Choral Performance and an Honors
Instrumental Performance, will take place Sunday, February 2, and are open to
the public. Tickets can be purchased beginning 60 days prior to the performance
through the Carnegie Hall box office.
“Being selected to the Honors
Performance Series is something each Finalist should be extremely proud of
accomplishing,” said Matt Castrina, Vice President for the Honors Performance
Series. “We processed more than 18,000 nominations this year and have selected
over 600 of the most talented student performers from around the world. Working
with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience that these musicians will never forget.”
The Honors Performance Series was
created to showcase accomplished individual high school performers on an
international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and
perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall. The Honors Performance Series
is proudly presented by WorldStrides, the nation’s leading educational travel
organization. Learn more by visiting www.honorsperformance.org
and www.worldstrides.com.