Emma Koehl, a senior at Greenwood Community High School, has been invited to perform as a soprano at New York’s Carnegie Hall on Feb. 10 as part of the High School Honors Performance Series. Koehl has been training as a vocalist for the past 10 years, and has won a number of awards at Greenwood in choir and band activities.
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In the world of the performing arts, Carnegie Hall is legendary — a cathedral among vocalists, musicians and performers of all kinds.
The New York City jewel has hosted some of the most famous names in history: Tchaikovsky, George Gershwin, Judy Garland, The Beatles. The opportunity to step on its stage and command an audience has fueled dreams for generations, and served as a true marker that you’d “made it.”
Emma Koehl never imagined she would join that group. Yet in just a few weeks, she will.
In February, the Greenwood Community High School senior will do just that. Koehl has been accepted into the High School Honors Performance Series, offering her the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall with the highest-rated young performers from across the world.
“It definitely means a lot. I never thought I’d get this opportunity, especially at such a young age on my own,” she said. “Most of the big opportunities I do are through my band program or my choir program. So just to have something solo that I know I can do and I accomplished, it’s been really cool to see my own musical growth on this journey.”
Prior to the concert on Feb. 10, Koehl will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other performers and experience some of the best culture New York has to offer.
For Koehl, it’s a surreal moment.
“I wouldn’t say I was shocked when I was chosen, but I didn’t think it would happen. I figured it was a longshot,” she said. “But I’m super-excited, and it got me something else to work on in choir.”
Koehl has been interested in music for much of her life, including studying extensively for the past 10 years. She has performed in multiple Greenwood schools choirs throughout her career, and she has played clarinet for the schools’ bands since 2017. That includes performing with the Greenwood Marching Woodmen since 2020.
Her performances have earned accolades and awards every step of her career. Koehl was a state finalist for the Indiana Vocal Jazz Ensemble and was accepted in the Indiana Bandmasters Association’s Junior All-State Honor Band.
“I’ve been surrounded by theater my whole life — my mom’s a singer, my dad did theater, my grandpa did theater,” she said. “My mom pushed me to do theater when I was in third grade, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Koehl has earned dozens of gold ratings in competition, including perfect scores at district and state Indiana State School Music Association competitions in both voice and clarinet performance. She was featured clarinet for the Greenwood band’s 2023 show “Immortalis,” which earned runner-up at the state finals.
For her senior capstone project this year, she composed a Renaissance-inspired clarinet trio, receiving a perfect score.
“It helped me learn a little bit more about the basics of music theater, rather than just the performance aspect of it,” she said.
With her extensive experience, Koehl has always been looking for expanded opportunities to perform. The Honors Performance Series piqued her interest.
The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual student performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in world-renowned venues.
“Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing,” said Marion Gomez, music director for the Honors Performance Series. “We processed nearly 10,000 nominations this year and have selected the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at these renowned music halls is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians will never forget.”
After Koehl received an email about the program over the summer, she investigated it and talked with Daniel Watson, Greenwood’s choral director. He encouraged her to audition for it, and she decided to try.
“I wasn’t audition prepared; I didn’t even have a voice lessons teacher. But I thought why not?” she said. “I had two voice lessons before I submitted my audition, and then I got it.”
The Honors Performance Series starts on Feb. 7, and Koehl will travel to New York to meet with program directors and the other students chosen to take part. She and other finalists will spend the next three days rehearsing and performing under master conductors, while also having the opportunity to meet other like-minded musicians from around the world.
Their focus will mostly be on preparation and learning to get ready for the Feb. 10 concert. But they will also catch glimpses of New York culture, including attending Broadway and off-Broadway shows in addition to seeing some of the city’s tourist sites.
For Koehl, the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall is one more step toward her plans. She will attend the University of Indianapolis in the fall to study voice, with a focus on high school choral direction.
“After I graduate, I’d like to move on to post-secondary choir classes,” she said.
