From the hills of West Virginia to Carnegie Hall... HOW does this happen? Come with me to discover the pathway to our prestigious invitation to sing on the Perelman Stage in Isaac Stern Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Sometimes life throws a curveball, and sometimes... a fastball right down the pike! December 2025 gave us a fastball.

Grace Christian School began in 1969 and has been adding programs over its life as an educational institution. One of those programs was a fine arts program. It began with an elementary music program, hiring the proper staff and programming Christmas and spring concerts. Then came the choir and band. We have always been on the cutting edge of performance and excellence, creating experiences which audiences have always enjoyed. The kids always do an exceptional job. We have been rewarded with many state awards and a few national awards. But nonetheless, we still strive, keeping the excellence that motivates us to get to the next level. And now, that next level is Carnegie Hall.

You don't get from the Hills to Carnegie Hall without exceptional talent and each of these ladies put forth the time and effort to make it happen: Addy Hubbard, Bella Moore, Kimberlyn Wilson, Clare Wilson, Adelyn Horton, Abbagail Workman, Blair Workman, Makenzie Adams, Olivia Jackson, Elly Frazier, Isabella Conley, Ellie Brubeck, Ryleigh Spencer, McKenna Spencer, Eva Conley, Abigail Lawson, Madisyn Bunch, Baylee Wilson, Abi Perry, Ali-Kate Perry, Emily Bullington, Delanei Frazier, Abigail Johnson, and Faith Spurlock.

As a music director of 30 years, I have seen many kids come through our fine arts program with varying degrees of excellence, performance ability, and toughness to make things happen on stage. This group of girls has been with me for several years, many since they were in our 4th and 5th grade choir. The drive they have for excellence has been solidified by the performances they have been involved in this year. One of those performances allowed them to handle a FASTBALL... right down the pike!

At Christmas, we sang a song called “As the Snow Lay Sleeping,” a beautiful three-part ladies’ ensemble. It was a performance that hit it out of the park. A few weeks prior, I contacted the composer of this song, Heather Sorenson. I have been messaging her for a few years, talking shop about music. Our conversation this time was a little different. After I mentioned that we would be singing another song that she wrote, I asked what the probability was of her joining a Zoom call so she could hear our girls perform her delightful winter-based song. SHE AGREED!!!

We set a date, and the girls prepared; preparing for that one time you get to sing for the composer. The day came. The TV and computer were set up. I looked at the girls and said, “Let’s make this a GREAT performance.” You can recall the days of Zoom, Teams, and other means of electronic communication, right?! The Zoom meeting started, and Heather and I officially introduced ourselves. The tech team made sure the girls were centered in the computer camera lens, and then I looked at our accompanist, Kim, and said, “Let’s do this!” The piano began, and the girls sang this beautiful song about how the snow lies on the ground and how seasons change. It was beautiful.

After we finished, Heather was quick to say, “Everything sounded great!” To hear that from the composer after a live, on-screen performance was just awesome. Here comes another fastball... She went on to say that she writes music for special occasions, and her music is sometimes premiered in New York City at Carnegie Hall. She then personally invited us to sing one of her world premieres in December of 2026. It is called Carol Mosaic: A Cantata for Congregation and Choir.

After we concluded the Zoom call, a few girls asked, “When are we going?” In my mind, I knew this was a decision that needed to be made as a group: administration, parents, students, and me. Do I WANT to take a group of 24 girls to New York City to sing at Carnegie Hall? Of course I do!!!! But this was not a small decision. It meant travel, rehearsals, learning a 40-minute cantata, managing a group in New York City, and raising a significant amount of money. Well, after a discussion with administration and an informational meeting with parents, WE decided this would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for all involved. We would take on the task of raising funds, scheduling activities, preparing musically, and learning that 40-minute cantata so that we can say we’ve hit a home run in our fine arts department.

Here are a few facts about our performance in New York City. We will be leaving on November 28 to head up to NYC. When we get there, we are going to hit the streets running. Due to the timing of our performance and the availability of Broadway shows, we will head into the city that night for a Broadway introduction to Wicked. Then on Sunday, November 29, we will have a four-hour rehearsal followed by lunch and sight-seeing at a few prime attractions. On Monday, November 30, we have our second four-hour rehearsal and some rest time, as we will be exhausted. Tuesday, December 1, will be filled with dress and tech rehearsals followed by the performance at 7:00 p.m. and a special dinner afterwards.

This will be quite an experience for all the girls, especially for all the first-timers in NYC. Navigation in NYC is never quick, and we will need to take the train system from place to place. It won’t be all work and no play. We are planning on taking in Wicked and enjoying the NYC food delicacies, including food from a street cart or a famous pizzeria. Either way, food will be enjoyed.

Before we travel to NYC, we do need to consider finances. NYC is not cheap. The total cost for each girl is $2,500. This includes the major expenses involved in a trip like this. The event is put on by DCINY, Distinguished Concerts International New York. This company sets up the event and rents each rehearsal space location, provides the professional orchestra and personnel, and secures Carnegie Hall. The cost also includes our charter bus through Charter America. Tony Tomasina is my representative, and he has been very helpful along this journey. It includes tickets for the acclaimed Broadway musical Wicked, the cost of food, subway passes, and the hotel.

In other words, this trip is not just a concert. It is travel, housing, meals, rehearsals, transportation, musical preparation, and the rare opportunity for these young ladies to sing a world premiere at Carnegie Hall. From the hills of West Virginia to Carnegie Hall... that is quite a journey. GREAT NEWS- We have already raised over half of what we need.

Would you kindly and prayerfully consider sponsoring our trip by one step? Maybe $50, $100, or $200? We would appreciate any help keeping our steps moving forward on this journey. Every gift helps move these girls one step closer to New York City, one step closer to Carnegie Hall, and one step closer to an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.