Since its opening in 1891, Carnegie Hall has earned its place as one of the world’s finest concert halls. Legendary musicians, including Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mahler, George Gershwin and Billie Holiday, have all graced its stage. On April 2, Blair students joined their ranks, offering a breathtaking performance.

A Broad Repertoire

Blair’s musicians presented a carefully crafted program that reflected both their versatility and the weight of the evening on the Carnegie stage. “We aimed for a diverse group of composers and styles for this performance, and we also wanted pieces with gravitas within the orchestral and choral repertoire, that merited performance on such a historic stage,” notes Director of Instrumental Music and chair of Blair’s performing arts department Jennifer Pagotto. 

For the Symphony Orchestra, one of the evening’s most moving moments came with  their performance of Symphony No. 2, Mvt. IV Allegro Vivace by Emilie Mayer, a composer from the post-Beethoven era whose music is finally receiving long-overdue notice. “She’s a wonderful composer who hasn’t received as much recognition, historically, as many stalwart male composers from the western canon. We’re thrilled to perform one of her pieces,” says Mrs. Pagotto. 

But, for senior clarinettist Brigette Starrs ’25, it was the Symphony Orchestra’s powerful rendition of Boléro by Maurice Ravel that stole the night. For her, the piece mirrored her own evolution that began as a new student at Blair. “It begins softly, almost hesitantly and, by the end, it’s this powerful force,” she reflects. “That’s exactly what it feels like to grow as a musician at Blair. Four years ago, I couldn’t play a note without squeaking. Now, here I am, playing at Carnegie Hall.”

The Chamber Orchestra, meanwhile, took on Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez. Originally championed by conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra, it brought a rhythmic energy to the hall, adding a vibrant contemporary touch to the program. 

Voices That Soared

Blair’s vocal ensembles added their own magic to the night. The Singers captivated the audience with Indodana, an isiXhosa choral masterpiece arranged by South African composers Michael Barrett and Ralf Schmitt. The song’s rich harmonies and uplifting melodies “challenged the Singers to extend their respiratory endurance, harmonic stability and  ability to maintain multiple parts beyond the usual four,” notes Director of Vocal Music Ryan Manni-Brennan. 

Meanwhile, the Chamber Choir delivered a tender and heartfelt Good Night, Dear Heart by Dan Forrest. “The choir performed this piece several years ago on tour in Europe and last year at Merkin Hall,” shares Mr. Manni-Brennan. “Chamber Choir was eager to return to it, rediscovering new moments of musical beauty and greater technical challenges.” 

A Second Chance

While Blair was originally scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall in April 2020 and again in April 2021, both concerts were unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic. This year’s performance marked the School’s long-awaited debut at the venue, making the event even more meaningful.

Before the concert, a special reception held in the hall welcomed 125 current parents, past parents and alumni eager to watch the musicians perform. The gathering not only celebrated the students’ dedication and hard work but also heightened the anticipation for the night ahead.

“Our students are just beginning to understand the significance of this performance,” reflects Mrs. Pagotto. “Not just for them as students and musicians, but also in the broader context of what it means to perform at Carnegie Hall.”

For Brigette, it was the perfect ending to her musical experience at Blair. “Tonight we played with everything we had,” Brigette says, reflecting. “I hope we made Mrs. Pagotto proud. We came together and played in a way that felt just electric.”   

Mrs. Pagotto could not agree more. “On one hand, we wanted them to simply experience the joy and magic of performing on such a world-renowned stage. But, more than that, we wanted them to take in the experience of working really hard toward their goal of learning this very challenging music, to pour themselves into it and then give this performance with their music colleagues. Any performance is an opportunity to create art, in the moment, and to share that with the world. Tonight, they did just that.”

To watch a video from the evening, click “play” below.