CASPER, Wyo. — Oliver Soulek, a 14-year-old student at Centennial Middle School, has been selected to perform with the Middle School Honors Junior Choir at the 2022 Middle School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York.
“We process thousands of nominations annually, selecting only the most talented performers,” Honors Performance Series Program Director Marion Gomez said in a press release Tuesday.
Soulek will join singers from 39 states, the District of Columbia and Canada for the June 18 performance at Carnegie Hall. He’ll be singing soprano with the choir after being selected by the Honors Selection Board based on his audition earlier in 2022.
“I am delighted and honored to be going to New York this summer and think that this will further my musical talent,” Soulek said in the press release.
Soulek has studied music for nine years. He is in his fifth year with the Casper Children’s Chorale, plays piano with the Centennial Jazz Band, plays trombone with the Centennial Band, and takes private piano lessons. He was a division finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Junior Piano Division and has earned national Gold Medal, level four, with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Prior to his Carnegie Hall performance, Soulek was also been selected to represent the Casper Children’s Chorale in the Wyoming American Choral Directors Association Children’s Honor Choir’s June 3–5 performances in Sheridan.
Soulek will join other junior finalists in New York City for five days during the Honors Performance Series this summer.
“They will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other Junior Finalists, and get a taste of New York City,” the press release states.
Tickets for performances will be available through the Carnegie Hall box office.
“The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual middle school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall,” the press release adds. “The Honors Performance Series is proudly presented by WorldStrides, the nation’s leading educational travel organization. Learn more by visiting www.honorsperformance.org and www.worldstrides.com.”
