Anoka High School student earns unique opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall
(02/25/2022) Elise Gross, a senior at Anoka High School - Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), was selected for the 2022 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City and participated in a performance at the famed venue on Feb. 6.
She sang soprano with the Honors Treble Choir. Selection to one of the five Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers across the world, as she joined students from 47 states, Australia, Bermuda, China, Guam and South Korea.
“You get to connect with a lot of people that are as passionate as you are,” Gross said. “We got to do more difficult pieces, which sounded really cool. I get really nervous around people, so singing by myself is intimidating. Being able to participate with a group of people that take music that seriously is really interesting and nice.”
The selection marked the second time she earned the opportunity to perform in the Honors Performance Series. She also performed at Carnegie Hall the summer after eighth grade. This time around, Gross spent five days in New York City, where she learned from a world-renowned conductor, worked with other finalists, saw the sights, and attended a Broadway show.
“When I was in eighth grade I’d heard of Carnegie Hall, but didn’t have much of a grasp on it,” Gross said. “I appreciated the opportunity more the second time because I knew a lot more about where I was performing and how unique of an opportunity it was.”
Gross was invited to audition for the Honors Performance Series in the fall and was accepted after review by the Honors Selection Board. According to the press release announcing her selection, “Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in her application and audition recording.”
“I really liked the music our conductor picked,” Gross said. “It’s a really cool experience and when you actually get in the hall it sounds different than rehearsal. The music you have been listening to on the tracks really comes to life and sounds different than you think it would. The sound is really amazing, and all the voices are so powerful. It’s a beautiful space and that adds to it.”
As for her future in music, Gross said she is interested in pursuing a major or a minor in music in college and added music would always be part of her life.