Middle School Musicians to Perform at Carnegie Hall

John Jay Middle School students Lily Oyen and Sabrina Zapson have been selected for the 2015 Middle School Honors Performance Series.

Oyen will perform as an alto with the Honors Junior Choir, and Zapson will perform on the double bass with the Honors Junior Orchestra. The two will perform at Carnegie Hall in June. Participation in one of the three Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest rated middle school performers from across North America and select schools internationally.
 
Oyen and Zapson auditioned in the fall for the Honors Performance Series and were accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to these elite groups is a direct result of the talent, dedication and achievements demonstrated in their application and audition recordings. The two John Jay students will join other performers from 49 states, several provinces in Canada and several foreign countries for this special performance.
 
According to Program Director Nancy Richardson, “Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each Junior Finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing. We process thousands of nominations annually, selecting only the most talented performers. Working with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these student-musicians never forget.”

Both Oyen and Zapson have studied music for many years and have been dedicated members of the John Jay Middle School Orchestra. Both students practiced tirelessly for their auditions and were overjoyed to be accepted into the program.

Junior Finalists will come together for five days in June in New York City to have the opportunity to learn from renowned conductors Greg Gilpin, Jeffrey Grogan, and Charles Peltz, work with other Junior Finalists and get a taste of New York City.

The Sunday, June 27 performance is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased through the Carnegie Hall box office.

The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school and middle school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue.