Sophomore Aditi Vikram and senior Talia Dauer have earned chairs in the 2023 High School Honors Performance Series. They will rehearse and perform under master conductors at Carnegie Hall in New York City from Feb. 1-5.

Vikram, a clarinetist, will perform in the Honors Symphonic Orchestra, and Dauer will perform in the Honors Symphonic Band as a flautist.

To be selected for this performance, high school musicians complete an application and audition process.

“I had to submit a flute etude, which is like a short piece and then a longer piece,” Dauer said. “Then I had to fill out a performance biography, which was just about how long I’ve been playing the flute and some of my past experiences.”

After a review of the auditions by the Honors Selection Board, only a select few musicians are chosen.

This year marks the fifth year in a row that a member of the Greenhill band was selected to the Honors Performance Series, Donnell says. It’s also the first time multiple students have earned this honor in the same year.

“They have amazing talent, they work hard, they know how to practice and prepare, and they know how to audition,” Donnell said.

According to Anastasia Tsioulcas, an NPR correspondent, Carnegie Hall is one of the most prestigious venues in the world.

“Performing at Carnegie Hall is very exciting and definitely the biggest venue I have performed at so far,” Dauer said.

With the big stage set, both musicians say that some nerves will kick in before and while performing at Carnegie Hall. However, they are planning to  take necessary precautions to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the performance.

“We get sent the music in December, so then I’ll start working on it. Hopefully everyone will have their parts ready because we only have a few days to rehearse,” Dauer said.

The trip to New York and the performances will bring many new and fun experiences for Dauer and Vikram, Donnell says. In addition to their performances, Dauer and Vikram will tour around New York City, getting to see a Broadway show and attend a boat tour.

“I know people come from internationally, so I’m really looking forward to meeting a lot of other musicians from around the world, and then just working with really interesting conductors,” Dauer said.