EHS Singer Takes the Stage at Carnegie Hall

For EHS junior McKenna Lee, the recent trip to New York City with the EHS Choir became much more than a memorable experience. It turned into a life-changing moment when she was personally selected by renowned composer Eric Whitacre to perform a solo in his arrangement of “Hurt” during an April 13 performance at Carnegie Hall. 

Lee traveled to New York as part of the EHS Choir’s trip, where students had the opportunity to perform on one of the most prestigious stages in the world. For Lee, the experience became even more special when she learned she had been chosen for the featured solo. 

Lee said she learned of the honor through her EHS choir director Emily Ottwein, who surprised her with the news over the phone. 

“During the call, she got my parents to record my reaction, and she read the email aloud.”

The selection came after Ottwein submitted memorization videos for her group as part of the trip process. One video from a recent concert featured a solo by Lee, which was reviewed and ultimately helped earn her the opportunity.

Her immediate reaction was emotional.

“I was pretty speechless. I started crying,” she said. 

Being chosen by Whitacre gave Lee a new sense of belief in herself. 

“It was confidence boosting in a way,” she said. “I’m not usually the most confident singer, so getting chosen is definitely, like, wow.”

With only about a week to prepare for the performance, Lee immersed herself in music. 

“I listened to it a lot,” she said. “Every time I would drive, I would be listening to the song and singing it to myself.”

Then came the unforgettable moment of stepping onto one of the world’s most iconic stages. 

“It was pretty and it was a lot bigger than I expected,” said Lee. 

Even before the performance, the beauty of Carnegie Hall left a lasting impression. 

“It was breathtaking,” she said. “There’s a lot of gold accents in it too, so it’s really pretty.”

Lee also had the chance to work directly with Whitacre, describing him as kind and encouraging. She especially valued hearing him explain the creative process behind his music during a question-and-answer session. 

“He was explaining his thought process while writing these songs, which I thought was really good to know.” 

Although the concert ended more than a week ago, the moment is still sinking in. 

“It wasn’t until Tuesday, which was the day after that concert, that it hit me,” she said. “Oh, I just did that.”

But Lee is quick to share the credit. She points to EHS and Ottwein as essential to getting her ready for the moment.

“Miss O has definitely helped me so much,” Lee said. “She’s helped me with learning how to sing to the best of my ability. She’s helped me read music better.”

Lee added that the Carnegie Hall experience has strengthened her plans for the future. 

“I’ve always wanted to go into music for a career,” she said. “After this, I think I can probably do it.”