Edison Orchestra Gets Call To Play Carnegie Hall

Edison Prep's orchestra is going to New York City over Spring Break to play at the legendary Carnegie Hall.

The orchestra and its conductor, Nathan Greenwood, are excited for the opportunity but learned it takes more than just practice to get the call.

“We had to submit a recording and it had to be reviewed by a panel of judges and then they sent us a real fancy letter saying we were accepted,” Greenwood said.

Four of Greenwood's students - Olivia, Ashley, Madeline and Jose – said Greenwood told them they were making the trip before he actually knew.

"As soon as we got the letter it was like, ‘Yes, it's true we are going to Carnegie Hall,'" Greenwood said.

They've been working on some special music for the trip, including an Oklahoma medley to close the show.

Needless to say, the students are excited.

"One of the pieces we play I have a solo, so it's kind of cool to say I went to Carnegie, but while I played at Carnegie Hall I got to play a solo," one student said.

That solo might never have happened. Early in the program budget cutting almost killed the orchestra program at Edison until several families fought to keep the program; it's now doubled in size.

"And now here we are almost five-and-a-half years later going to perform in Carnegie Hall, pretty special,” Greenwood said.

It's expensive, $150,000, but they aren't letting that stop them. They are having pancake breakfast fundraiser Saturday morning at the Applebee's Restaurant at Yale and I-44 from 7:30 – 10:00 for $7.

They've also set up an online fund to help them raise the money.