By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
NEW YORK – Amazing.
That’s the word University of Nebraska at Kearney choir members use over and over when discussing their recent visit to New York City and performance at the iconic Carnegie Hall.
“This trip was just amazing,” said Kiya Garrelts, a sophomore from Crete. “Little Kiya would have literally screamed to know that I had this experience. I’ve always been really involved in choir – I’ve been a singer in school and at church – so being able to perform on a scale like this was life-changing.”
A psychology and Spanish major, Garrelts is part of the Choraleers, one of five vocal ensembles at UNK. The trip to the Big Apple included a total of 32 students from multiple choirs, creating a unique opportunity to experience one of the world’s most famous cities and concert venues together.
“Being able to perform with such amazing people on such amazing pieces was absolutely incredible,” Garrelts said. “I definitely got a lot closer with the other people in our choir program. That relationship-building is valuable, and it’s also really important to showcase the strength of our music department and the opportunities we’re able to offer.”
Led by associate music professor and director of choral activities John Petzet, the five-day stay was arranged through MidAmerica Productions. It included plenty of time for sightseeing, but the highlight was the May 11 concert at Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan.
Joined by the renowned New England Symphonic Ensemble, the UNK vocalists performed two pieces in the historic Stern Auditorium, which opened in 1891. Petzet directed their performance of “Mass” by American composer and songwriter Steve Dobrogosz, and they were part of the world premiere of “Xantolo” by Mexican composer, conductor and music educator Julio Morales.
“With a world premiere, it’s a big deal,” Garrelts said. “It’s the first time a song is performed on stage, and we were able to have the composer there for that piece. We got to interact with him, hear the story behind the piece, and learn more about his culture.”
Because it was a world premiere, the pressure rose to a “whole new level,” according to Sam Heitz, who graduated Friday with a bachelor’s degree in music education.
“You want to do well for this composer because they worked so hard on the piece and you don’t want to let them down on a first performance, especially a first performance in Carnegie Hall,” the York native said.
Heitz was part of the Choraleers, Collegium, Men’s Chorus, Nebraskats, Symphonic Band and Pride of the Plains Marching Band during his time at UNK, and he served as president of the National Association for Music Education chapter. That involvement took him to Ireland and Washington, D.C., in the past, but he’d never been to New York City before.
“It was an amazing experience. Amazing, wonderful, all of those adjectives,” he said. “Getting to be on stage at Carnegie Hall was so, so cool. It was almost surreal. It’s a beautiful venue and the acoustics are better than I’ve ever heard before.”
In addition to the New England Symphonic Ensemble, the UNK singers were joined on stage by Nebraska high school choirs from Bridgeport, Maywood and Arapahoe-Holbrook, as well as the University of Central Arkansas Concert Choir and other vocalists from the U.S. and Mexico.
Following the concert, there was a dinner cruise aboard a yacht with spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline and other landmarks.
“It was a great way to celebrate the performance,” said Garrelts, who was also visiting New York for the first time.
Other memorable stops included Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Broadway, where the UNK students saw shows such as “Hadestown” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”
Heitz even got to play “Heart and Soul” on the giant piano at the FAO Schwarz toy store, recreating the famous scene featuring Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia in the 1988 movie “Big.”
“There was a random person who walked up to me and said, ‘Hey, do you know that song?’ And we got to play that duet, which was a lot of fun,” he explained.
With his degree completed, Heitz will start his career as a K-6 music teacher at Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Public Schools this fall. The New York trip was the perfect “last hurrah” for this Loper.
“I think it’s a big hoot to end on,” he said with a laugh. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”
Concert photos by Michael Violago Photography / Video by MidAmerica Productions
The following UNK students, listed by hometown, were part of the Carnegie Hall performance:
Albion – Tanner Bauld
Belgrade – Maria Moseman
Cairo – Bri Linden
Columbus – Tyler Clay
Cozad – Grace Ratkovec
Crete – Kiya Garrelts
Fairfield – Carter Lipovsky
Fremont – Zoey Smallwood
Hampton – Abbey Arndt
Hemingford – Lawrence Miller
Henderson – Madison Miller
Herndon, Kansas – Timberly Solko
Imperial – Sophie Fiedler
Kearney – Emma Jahn
Kearney – Caitie Nickel
Kearney – Olivia Sheldon
Kearney – Robert Sogar
Kearney – Trista Tool
Kearney – Isabelle Kathol
Kearney – Daylan Worthington
Kenesaw – Jaydn Jackman
Kenesaw – Emma Schroeder
Kenesaw – Levi Schroeder
Lincoln – Gracyn Jozsa
North Platte – Nat Morris
Omaha – Victoria Nimneh
Omaha – Keegan Spence
Ravenna – Kiana Schuster
St. Louis, Missouri – Rebecca Williams
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuhito Tsutsumi
York – Sam Heitz
York – Dannika Lamberty
