Los Altos High School student Katherine Liu shared her musical talents last month on one of the world’s most prestigious stages – New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
Liu was selected to play the violin in the 2012 American High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Participation in the Honors Orchestra, Honors Band and Honors Choir is limited to the most talented high school performers from across North America and select international schools.
“Playing violin at Carnegie Hall was incredible,” Liu said. “The entire hall was filled. I felt that pulse of excitement that all performers experience when they know they’re about to make great music.”
The Selection Board committee accepted Liu after reviewing her audition. Acceptance to the elite group directly reflects Liu’s talent, dedication and achievements, demonstrated in her application and audition recording. She has played the violin for eight years.
“Standing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious musical venues in the world, I knew that all my years of hard work had paid off,” Liu said. “Playing violin started out as a hobby; now, my violin is a friend, something I can always turn to when I need to calm myself down or relax after a long day.”
Liu joined performers from the U.S. and Canada for the special performance at Carnegie Hall, a venue that for her marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.
“It was amazing to be surrounded by talented and dedicated musicians who were there to perform to the best of their abilities,” she said. “Rehearsals were long but thrilling; seven hours of sore necks and sore shoulders also meant seven hours of exhilarating and powerful musical cooperation.”
Liu studies music with Zhou Zunxian and was a member of El Camino Youth Symphony Sinfonietta Orchestra. Additionally, she formed the No Strings Attached Performance Group with fellow students of Los Altos High to play for local community nursing homes and hospitals. She is a committed volunteer at local hospitals and blood centers, and received the Presidential Volunteering Service Award – Gold Level.
Finalists traveled to New York City to study with conductor Charles Peltz, work with other finalists and get a taste of the city.
The 2012 conductors included Peltz, Jeffery Ames and Jeffrey Grogan.
“This experience has completely changed how I feel about orchestras,” Liu said. “Charles Peltz, the conductor, was truly passionate about the music, and he infused that same enthusiasm into each of us. Every musician is aware of his or her own part in the big picture – and the orchestra works as one giant, unified body to bring that emotion to the audience.”
The Honors Performance Series showcases and encourages accomplished individual high school performers by giving them the opportunity to study under master conductors and perform at Carnegie Hall. Students from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Korea and Taiwan have participated in the series.
For more information, visit www.honorsperformance.org.
