This summer the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde were invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City!  It was a HUGE honor and each of the children had a blast.  For many of them, mine included, it was their first visit to New York City.  As they were getting ready to leave, I was the mom with the camera and had to document all aspects of their trip.  :)   

I don't normally write personal blog posts, but I am making an exception this time for no other reason than because I want to.  :)    My daughter Hannah has been part of this amazing chorus for the last three years and it has very much shaped who she is.  She has learned a tremendous amount about music and singing but more importantly, she has grown personally by being a part of this organization.  She has learned about personal responsibility, accountability, kindness, goodwill and so much more.  Every time one of their concerts ends, she walks proudly to her father and I, happy to be a part of this group of young singers. 

Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall!

     Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Kristin Boyer AYS Carnegie HallThe Atlanta Young Singers go to Carnegie Hall! Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016

Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016

My family and I traveled to NYC to watch the kids.  While we did not really see them at all during their stay in NYC, we of course had tickets to the concert.  We arrived (6 of us... Hannah's grandmother, her father and I, her little sister and her Aunt and Cousin) and found that we had second row seats.  This sounds wonderful but sadly, they were not good seats as we were way too close to the stage and would not have been able to see the singers standing on risers behind the orchestra.  I asked if we could be moved but we were told that we had to buy new tickets.  This was heartbreaking.  I had arrived in NYC to watch my daughter sing at Carnegie Hall and I was going to miss it because i could not see her.  I went back up to the box office and ended up switching my ticket for another but the rest of my family was still down below while I was now on the 2nd tier of seats, right up at the front overlooking the orchestra and singers.  It was a great view!!  I asked the usher and she allowed all of us to move up to the better seats.  Her kindness made me cry.  She told me to quietly tell the rest of my family to come up and sit so we could all see my daughter and the rest of the choir.  Her thoughtfulness and kindness overwhelmed me.  I can not tell you what it meant to me... if the world were more like this woman, we would live in a wonderful place.  I don't even have a name but I want to say "thank you".  Over and over again... thank you.

The music was simply beautiful.  They sang music written and composed by Cristian Grases, a Venezuelan musician and this concert was his world premier of various new songs.  It was a lovely mix of music and sound.  Simply amazing!

Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016 Carnegie Hall AYS Kristin BoyerCarnegie Hall hosts Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. June 2016

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There are so many proud moments as a mother of a young girl... this was one of them.  I was happy for my daughter AND happy for all the other kids as well.  This is an experience they will never forget and one that is so unique and special.  What a gift they have been given!