Junior flautist Lauren Phillips joined the ranks of Duke Ellington and the Beatles, as well as many other musical prodigies from the realms of classical, jazz and everything in between. She performed at the nationally-acclaimed Carnegie Hall Feb. 8.
Phillips was given this opportunity through the American High School Honors Performance Series, which consists of high school choral and band students across the country.
She flew up to New York City Thursday, Feb. 6, but the performance wasn’t until that Sunday night, leaving an average of about six hours a day for the three days of rehearsing.
“It was pretty intense and really tiring,” Phillips said. “But we only had three days to put the music together and get it sounding good enough for Carnegie Hall, so all the rehearsing was definitely necessary.”
The program is five years running and requires a recommendation from a band or choral director to send in an audition tape.
Phillips actually found out about the opportunity through a different high school music event that she participated in last year called the Montgomery County Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Phillips has been playing flute since the 4th grade, and says that she enjoys playing because out of all the band instruments, the flute offers the most technically challenging parts.
“I would say that in general we play the most notes out of anyone in the band,” she said.
Despite her success and love of the instrument, she says she’s unsure about continuing in college because she prefers playing solo or in small groups over full ensembles.
That being said, Phillips said the Carnegie Hall performance was a worthwhile experience. The most fascinating part was the gorgeous auditorium and the history surrounding it, she said.
“You could say it’s like you’re sharing the stage with people like Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Yo-Yo Ma,” said Phillips. “Plus, Destiny’s Child performed at Carnegie Hall in 2002, so I’ve officially performed on the same stage as Beyoncé.”
