TAMPA - Many students in the Lumina Youth Choirs have never traveled to New York City. They've never climbed the Statue of Liberty, paid their respects at the Sept. 11 Memorial or sat in a Broadway theatre.
That all changes on Wednesday (April 4) when they board a plane to the Big Apple and take in all of the sights.
And for these singers, no sight will be grander than the high ceilings and bright lights of Carnegie Hall.
"I've been working with this organization on and off for 20 something years, but this will be my first time taking a choir to Carnegie Hall," said artistic director Deah McReynolds. "We're always looking for an interesting experience for the kids.
"The upper divisions have done performances with festivals in L.A. And Chicago, but nothing like Carnegie Hall. It has this mystique to it and a reputation for being a premiere place, so for our students, it's a peek into what the future might be like."
McReynolds grew up accompanying her mother on the piano, singing back-up and matching melodies with her church choir.
When it came time to start college, her church choral director suggested McReynolds consider a choral major.
She heeded her advice and graduated with a masters of music degree and bachelor of arts degree in music education from the University of South Florida.
"She was fantastic," McReynoldds said. "It was people like her who encouraged me and made me want to encourage others."
In her role now as a music educator, alongside her husband Phil McReynolds, her encouragement landed Lumina Youth Choirs' students on stage next to the Florida Orchestra - during the opening week of their 50th anniversary season.
Its' prepared them to perform in front of a football stadium full of fans, as they opened a Buccaneers game against the Giants. One of their more stressful performances due to protests of the National Anthem.
And now they will perform in Carnegie Hall.
"I like the atmosphere of the choir here," said Karrah Christensen, 15. "I can come in and know people are going to have their music ready. You have Mrs. McReynolds and she's all about professionalism. I love her. The way she rehearses, I admire that. I want to be a music educator one day and she makes me want to be one even more because of the way she can conduct rehearsals and inspire students."
Christensen, a South Sumter High School sophomore, drives more than an hour to attend rehearsals at the University of South Florida's music hall. It's a drive she's made for the past six years.
"Our idea is to offer singers the opportunity to explore what choral music can do for them," McReynolds said. "Students who come together in this situation understand their role in the world in a different way. They are part of a community that is supportive, develops leadership skills, creativity and finding confidence in the way they communicate with each other."
During the Choirs of America Festival, which starts Thursday (April 5) and runs through April 7, 15 choirs (including Lumina) will come together to sing, conducted by Andre Thomas.
"I think that when we get to share our talent with other choirs and people at Carnegie Hall, it's going to be wonderful," Jackson Settle said.
Qualifying choirs also will have the opportunity for a showcase at this national festival.
"It is unique in the sense that it's focused solely on the kids, which drew me to it," McReynolds said. "It's educated yes, but not competitive. They will bring in Deke Sharon, who arranged music from Pitch Perfect to work with the kids."
Lumina's spotlight song will be Sisi Ni Moja by Jacob Narverud
"It's an African piece, but more of a contemporary African piece," said Avery Richards, 17. "I think it's a great piece that delivers this message of unity, which is what Lumina stands for and is what the world needs right now."
Richards, who has been with Lumina since the eighth grade, also sings in the Blake High School choir.
"I don't even remember the first time I sang because it's something that's been a part of my life for so long," Richards said. "The community with Lumina is something you don't find anywhere else. The girls who come here to sing, come because they love it and that shared love creates this really close bond."
That bond is another reason students are excited for the upcoming trip. A trip they've been looking forward to since the end of last year.
"I'm excited to go there with my peers. Usually I take family vacations, but not vacations with friends," Christensen said. "Also the fact that it's Carnegie Hall, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. What comes to mind when I think of Carnegie Hall? Nerves."
When these passionate, energetic singers step off the plane into New York City, they'll be carrying more than a tune and some music sheets.
Contact Arielle Waldman at hillsnews@tampabay.com.