THE CARNEGIE HALL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL FESTIVAL "My choir has struggled, laughed, joked, cried, perspired, and argued ... and we wouldn't trade any of those experiences because it strengthened us as a whole and helped us define our choral identity."—Shorewood High School Aeolian Choir member on the 2008–2009 Festival Once every two years, Carnegie Hall gives a few specially chosen choruses the opportunity to realize the dream of a lifetime: a performance on the Carnegie Hall stage with a professional orchestra and soloists. The 2012–2013 Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival will bring together selected choirs with professional singers for a one-of-a-kind, yearlong educational program. The Festival offers the unique opportunity to perform selections from a piece of major choral repertory in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, under the baton of a renowned choral maestro, and accompanied by a professional orchestra, professional choristers, and professional soloists. Program Timeline 2012 January—Applications available April—Applications due June—Selected choirs notified September—Directors of the selected choirs begin their yearlong professional development, including score study, workshops, and sharing best practices. 2013 January—Choral Preparer visits each high school for a full day of rehearsals. Spring—Participating choirs travel to New York for three days of rehearsals followed by the final performance, conducted by the Festival maestro at Carnegie Hall. Fees There are no fees for the National High School Choral Festival, and expenses for the program are covered by Carnegie Hall. The school is responsible only for travel and lodging costs for the Festival week. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Erica Westcott at secondaryschoolprograms@carnegiehall.org or call The Weill Music Institute at 212-903-9625. The Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival is made possible, in part, by endowment gifts from S. Donald Sussman and the Citi Foundation. 2010–2011 Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival applications are closed. Check back next season. Frequently asked questions Carnegie Hall performance No participation fee Professional development      weekend for Directors Norman MacKenzie visits each      high school for a full day of      rehearsals Rehearsal days in New York Choral directors participate in      final performance Read participant reactions, and view a photo slideshow of the 2008–2009 Festival here › View a slideshow of the 2007–2008 Festival here›