BYU orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall

The Brigham Young University Chamber Orchestra is on a 10-city tour of the eastern United States.

Performing out of state is a major part of what the orchestra does, and the students soon become accustomed to traveling, because the ensemble undertakes an extended tour every other year.

But what makes this tour special is that it culminates in a performance in Carnegie Hall Wednesday. This will be the first time that the chamber orchestra will play in the historical New York City venue, and it's only the second performing group from BYU to appear there (the first was the BYU Singers back in 1999).

Needless to say, the student musicians are ecstatic. "They're thrilled," said BYU director of orchestras Kory Katseanes by phone. "This is a big chance for the kids, and they're all looking forward to it."

The response to the concert has been overwhelming, and the performance has already sold out. "That's exciting. We're overjoyed," Katseanes said. "But we had to turn away a lot of people, and that's discouraging." In fact, some 1,800 people who wanted to attend couldn't be accommodated.

When it looked as if the concert, against expectations, would sell out the 2,800-seat hall, the organizers planned on holding an open rehearsal Wednesday morning. "But that wouldn't work," Katseanes said, "because only a few of the people who couldn't attend the evening concert would be able to come that morning."

One of the orchestra's pieces is K. Newell Dayley's "A Perfect Brightness of Hope," which received its world premiere at BYU in May. Soloists will be soprano Jennifer Welch-Babidge and trumpeter Nathan Botts, who is a former BYU student who now freelances in New York.

Dayley based the text of his work on selections from the Old and New Testament as well as the Book of Mormon. "He wrote the piece with Jenny in mind, and the vocal part is designed to showcase her voice," Katseanes said.

The trumpet part, as well, was written to accommodate Botts' artistry. "It's crafted to his skill. It's a very brilliant part."

While the piece is rhythmically challenging, it's also quite lyrical, Katseanes said. "Newell tries to capture the spirit of the text, and he stays true to his intentions."