Norwalk High School advanced choir to perform at Carnegie Hall

Norwalk High School choir director Desiree Flores leads her advanced choir students during their winter performance at Excelsior Auditorium Wednesday evening. The chorus is preparing to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City this April. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK — Norwalk High School (NHS) choir director Desiree Flores and her advanced choir students have accepted an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall, and are preparing for the trip to New York City this April.

This is the first time the Norwalk High School choir has been invited to perform at the famous theater.

“I'm honored to do this and give [my students] the experience of a lifetime. I’m so proud of them,” Flores said. “There is definitely going to be a lot of practicing and then when we arrive there with the other choir ensembles.”

The choir was invited through the organization National Concerts, along with several other school choirs from across the country. They will each have the opportunity to collaborate with guest conductors, composers and professional instrumentalists during rehearsals at the theater.

The Norwalk High School choir will also premiere an original piece of music during their performance.

Melissa Ramacula, a sophomore at NHS and a soprano in advanced choir, expressed her excitement for the upcoming performance. After having years of experience in choir, she is not too nervous at this time.

“When the day comes closer we're gonna be very much more nervous but right now we're really excited for this opportunity that we have,” Ramacula said. “I've been in choir since elementary school and I feel like this group is more professional than any choir I’ve been a part of.”

Andy Balingit, a soprano in the advanced choir and a junior at NHS, also said she was looking forward to the opportunity, and praised her choir director for being an effective teacher.

“[Flores] gives us the extra support that we need like extra practice time, practice tracks that we can listen to at home,” Balingit said. “She breaks it down for us and makes sure we understand each section and once you put it all together it turns into this musical art.”

The trip is scheduled between April 3 through April 7, with their performance on April 6. Students will be able to explore New York City, take in a Broadway show and visit museums in the city.

However, it will cost $1,500 per student for travel and accommodations. Students are working to raise the money through fundraising, and Flores expressed the school will do their best to help advanced choir members who want to join the trip.

The chorus is also accepting donations, and the choir Director encouraged those who can donate to contact Norwalk High School.

Flores plans to continue building the Norwalk High school choir, helping her students improve and prepare her advanced choir for April.

“I'm trying to build the program and I'm trying to excite [the kids],” Flores said. “I'm picking repertoire that is appealing and exciting while challenging, and still doing what is authentic.”