Ask Southern Door sophomore Dalena Pakalske how you get to Carnegie Hall, her answer is more than just practice. Pakalske recently performed with close to 200 other choir students from around the world at the famed New York City theater as a part of the 2020 High School Honors Performance Series. After singing with the state honors choir, Pakalske was encouraged to apply for the group and learned she would be a part of it last October. She spent four days in New York City ahead of her February 2nd performance, rehearsing with the rest of the choir for 17 hours. Pakalske says performing the last number was when it sank in that she was performing at Carnegie Hall.

Only 600 students out of 18,000 applicants were chosen to perform at the High School Honors Performance Series shows at Carnegie Hall. Pakalske will now turn her attention to a smaller stage, performing at this weekend’s Solo and Ensemble Contest at Southern Door High School Friday and Saturday.