I Sang at Carnegie Hall & NYC Shenanigans

This past summer, I traveled to NYC on my own and sang at Carnegie Hall! 

How Did This Happen? 

I’ve been a member of the Houston Masterworks Chorus for a few years. Last summer, the chorus’s previous Artistic Director, Dr. Paulo Gomes, was invited to conduct at Carnegie Hall. Because of that, he needed singers, so he invited the chorus members to sign up. 

Carnegie Hall is one of the world's most prestigious venues. It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I didn’t want to miss it. 

We had to sign up through MidAmerica Productions, a music production company that organizes concerts at Carnegie Hall and venues worldwide. To be transparent, we had to pay to participate, and the residency program was quite expensive. 

But was it worth it? As someone who hasn’t had the chance to sing professionally, I can say yes, it was. 

During the year leading up to the concert, I put a lot of pressure on myself. It was only a 30-minute repertoire, but I was still stressed. I worked with my vocal coach to make sure I sang all the right notes and rhythm. I listened to the songs on YouTube multiple times to get the feel, especially since I didn’t know what the other groups (the altos, tenors, and basses) would sound like. 

I remember feeling overwhelmed during the last month before the trip. Like I hadn’t practiced enough, even though I'd had months to prepare. To be fair, I’ve had my on-and-off months…so my anxiety was right. 

My coach reassured me it would be easier once I am in rehearsals with the other groups, and I should just focus on having fun… advice I’ve always gotten, haha. 

But First, The Shenanigans

This was my first solo trip in a while, and honestly, I was winging it! I didn’t feel like planning my day-to-day. I only had a few places I wanted to visit, so I went with the flow (and whatever was most convenient and not too expensive for me). 

For example, I wanted to see a Broadway show, so I decided to see Chicago just hours before it started. I debated visiting the MET Museum or the Brooklyn Museum – and I chose the MET. Although, it turns out some museums weren't open on the weekend, so I had to pivot. I knew I wanted to go to Brooklyn, so I went to Pebble Beach to see the city skyline and the bridge. 

I packed a lot into a few days, so I wasn’t upset about missing a few places I'd originally planned to visit. I’ll save it for the next time! 

Did you really visit New York City without an adventure?

From staying in a tiny hybrid hostel for 4 nights to almost running out of phone battery multiple times, I had my fair share of adventures. 

On the first day, my phone was at 10% before I went to see Chicago. When I pulled out my power bank to charge it…I found it had no battery either. I thought, “Really? I didn’t charge this?” With an hour left before the show started, I went to the corner CVS and asked if I could charge my phone if I bought the power brick. Shout-out to their CVS employee, who was pretty chill about it! So, I sat right beside their big ass logo sign by the window for about half an hour before I checked in. 

The next day at the MET Museum, 30 minutes before it closed, I charged my phone at their charging station, too. I planned to get dinner with the other Houston chorus members across the city, so I made sure it was charged. 

Even after that dinner, my phone was at 8% on the subway at the end of the night…How?! Plus, I ended up taking the wrong subway, going the opposite direction. 

So, you know, I was praying I got back safely. 

I know, I know, I need to upgrade my phone…but, I’m standing strong with my iPhone 13 mini! 

As for the hybrid-hostel experience, it was…interesting. I had my own, tiny, individual room. Personally, I learned I can handle it for a few nights, but not much longer. I won’t complain too much. But, given the price and budget, I'd still recommend it for solo travelers.

However, it was great that I could go downstairs and get one of the best matchas I’ve ever had because it’s literally next door…so it was still worth it for me. 

Singing at Carnegie Hall 

The trip itself was 5 days, with 2 rehearsals, a tech rehearsal, and then the performance. The rehearsals were about 3-4 hours long, so we had plenty of time to explore the city. Overall, I’d say it was well-balanced between rehearsal and free time.  

Not enough people signed up from Houston, so it was a joint concert between Dr. Paulo Gomes and Dr. Colt B. Ballou from Star City Chorus in Lincoln, Nebraska. We had multiple choruses from other cities who participated, so there were a lot of people! 

When we got to Carnegie Hall for the tech rehearsal, I was in awe. It was a really beautiful venue with amazing acoustics and sound. I got chills when the basses sang the last note of a song, because their voices echoed all the way to the back of the room. Then, I had an “I can’t believe I’m here” moment because it was amazing to perform where legends have also performed. 

For the performance, I was in the front row (short-people advantage!). The overall performance was great, and it was nice to see the conductors' faces light up.

After the full performances, our trip ended with the after-party cruise included in our residency package. 

And wow, I had so much fun! There was a DJ, a dance floor, and I was partying with everyone. (Drinking or not, millennial pop takes me to the floor every time.) 

The cruise took us out to see the Statue of Liberty from afar, so we really got the full NYC tourist experience. 

And of course – DJ – cue Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind.”  

Funny thing is, I’ve always wanted to party on a boat…so I crossed that bucket-list item off.

It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. All the hard work paid off. I sang in New York. I danced on a boat. I’ve been through a lot of personal challenges over the last few years, so it felt like I was finally enjoying life again.

The Reflection  

After getting back home, I reflected on my experiences. From the beginning, I put a lot of pressure on myself. Then I realized it doesn’t matter what venue it is, how prestigious it is, or where it is, as long as I give my all in the performance – that's all that matters. Growth, baby! 

But I do feel more confident as a person…because I get to say that I sang at Carnegie Hall, haha. Who knows when I’ll sing there again? 
I am still in the chorus. I originally joined because I wanted to sing, but it’s easy to hide when you’re singing with others. Lately, I’ve been thinking that I want to do more solo work again. 

I’m working with a piano accompanist to overcome my (ongoing and awful) stage fright and get my spark back. 

But I should practice more. Just like their famous joke:

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall? — Practice, practice, practice!”

Practice makes progress, and that’s what I am always aiming for, both personally and professionally. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Don’t forget to check out my short vlog if you haven’t seen it! 

Until then, thank you for reading!