High School Band Plays at Carnegie Hall

Story by Angela Peach

During last school year’s spring semester, the Spring Valley Academy (SVA) high school band had an opportunity few musicians ever get: performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Donald Huff, SVA band director, says, “Playing at Carnegie Hall was the greatest musical experience of my entire life.” That’s quite a statement for someone like Huff, who has traveled the world and conducted bands in many locations. “It’s the best room I’ve ever played in,” he continues. “It’s widely viewed as the performance pinnacle for a musician, and you feel the weight of that in that room. I think the students were surprised at how affected they were by that sense of wonder.”

Rodil Espinoza Martinez (’26) says, “There was just something about that place. I didn’t expect to feel so in awe of it. But it was so cool, and we played the best we’ve ever played.”

“It was really cool,” says freshman Anna Graybill (’29). “Such a fun experience.”

While playing at Carnegie Hall was the main focus of the trip, it was by no means the students’ only activity. The tour started with a stop in Washington, D.C., where the band performed for Potomac Conference’s Takoma Park (Md.) church Sabbath morning. After the church service, they visited the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va.

Sunday morning, band members spent time at Carnegie Hall, practicing and preparing for their afternoon performance, where approximately 1,000 guests attended. Sunday evening, they took a dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty and visited other local sites.

Katrina Bennie, SVA guidance counselor, says, “It was special to watch the students experience these things for the first time. Their wonder was infectious!”

On the way back home, the group stopped at Pennsylvania Conference’s Blue Mountain Academy to play for its chapel program and also visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pa.

“Music tours are always a highlight of the musical year,” Huff says. “This one was particularly special because we experienced Carnegie Hall together for the first time. It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time, but it was even better because I was able to help the students get that opportunity as well.”

SVA faculty and staff thank the parents and donors who made this once-in-a-lifetime trip possible.