Sarah Aleman sings at Carnegie Hall

Sarah Aleman, a student at St. Thomas More Academy in Magnolia, was selected for the 2016 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. She sang soprano in the select Honors Concert Choir during Carnegie Hall’s 125th anniversary season. Participation in one of the five honors ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across the world.

Earlier this year, Aleman auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication and achievements demonstrated in her application and audition recording. Aleman joined other performers from the other 49 United States, Guam, four Canadian provinces and a number of foreign countries for a special performance at world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.

Morgan Smith, program director, said, “Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing. We processed more than 18,000 nominations this year and have selected nearly 750 vocalists which are divided into the five choirs of the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians never forget."

Aleman has studied private voice with international soprano and master teacher Jean Bradel of West Fenwick for one year and is a member of Possum Point Players. In response to her selection as a finalist, Aleman said, “I am honored and thrilled to have been selected to sing in the Honors Choral Performance!”

Finalists came together in New York City for five days in February. They had the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other finalists, and get a taste of New York City. Two performances, an Honors Choral Performance and an Honors Instrumental Performance, took place Feb. 7, and were open to the public.

The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in Carnegie Hall. For more information, go to www.honorsperformance.org.