James Clemens’ Austin Bartlett to perform at Carnegie Hall
Austin Bartlett will perform with the 2015 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Austin Bartlett will perform with the 2015 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Bartlett, a senior, is a member of the James Clemens High School Band and plays euphonium.
Officials with the honors performance series invited Bartlett to audition. “I wanted to try out because going to Carnegie and playing there has been a life goal of mine,” Bartlett said.
Along with a standard application, he submitted an audio recording of the audition piece, a solo piece and a director’s nomination. However, he didn’t feel confident about his recordings. “I felt that I could have done better,” Bartlett said.
Luckily, he received email on Oct. 31 that confirmed him as a finalist.
“The Honors Performance of the America’s Honor Band will come together Feb. 19-23. The concert will be at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 22,” he said. “There will be a choir, band and orchestra performing. I will be performing in the band.”
The young musicians will stay at the Sheraton Hotel and rehearse in the famed Carnegie Hall.
At James Clemens, Bartlett was awarded with Most Outstanding Brass Musician in 2013. He has performed two marching solos, “I’ll Fly Away” and “All Night Long.” He is a member of the James Clemens Engineering Club.
Bartlett has earned slots in numerous honor bands across the state, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University and University of Alabama. He has participated with University of Alabama in Huntsville Honor Band, District Honor Band and All-State Band several times.
He will attend Auburn and major in engineering. “I will continue to play in a band and would like to play in the Auburn Band, both marching and concert bands,” Bartlett said.
To help with travel expenses for Carnegie Hall, Bartlett has set up a GoFundMe account. To donate to help him with those costs, visit gofundme.com/grvbyg.
