Several singers from Prince Albert and area say they experienced a once-in-a-lifetime moment when they were part of a 100-person choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Lauren Lohneis, who does not teach any of the students who went with her, said that she and the six students who went with her were awestruck by the experience on June 1. “It was totally surreal.

When you look at the list of who has stood on that stage, it was really kind of incredible,” Lohneis said. Lohneis has visited a lot of theatres in Europe, including cathedrals and places with great acoustics. For her, it was inspiring to stand on the same stage as Simon and Garfunkel did once upon a time or the Beatles or her favourite jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald.

“It was a bucket list venue to perform in for sure and really full circle to share the stage with my students as well.” The Saskatchewan choir was one of three acts to perform that evening and sang Illuminare by Elaine Hagenberg, conducted by Dr. Jennifer Lang, the Associate Professor of Music Education and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Saskatchewan.

Lohneis used to teach choir at Rivier Academy and some of the students she taught there were standing beside her on the Carnegie stage. Willow Vogelgesand, a student at Ecole St. Mary who is graduating this year said it was difficult to describe the experience.

“You feel the people around you when you’re singing, especially in harmony with so many people. It’s there’s .