A Tuscaloosa City Schools student recently performed on one of the world’s most recognized stages after being selected to a competitive international honors music program.
Maxwell Morgan, a sophomore at Northridge High School, was selected as one of only 87 students worldwide to perform on February 8 at Carnegie Hall as part of the Honors Symphony Orchestra through the Honors Performance Series, an audition-based program that brings together top student musicians from around the globe.
District officials said students must independently audition and submit recommendations and detailed musical credentials for review by the program’s selection board.
“It was an amazing opportunity, and I feel really blessed and honored to have been able to do this,” Morgan said.
Tuscaloosa City Schools reported Morgan is the first student from Northridge High School to be chosen for the program and only the second student across the district to earn the opportunity.
While in New York, Morgan rehearsed and performed alongside students from across the United States and internationally, including musicians from Indonesia and Guam.
“I felt honored to represent Alabama — not just Tuscaloosa, but the entire state,” Morgan said. “I didn’t see anyone else from Mississippi, Georgia or other Southern states, so I was glad to represent our state in an opportunity like this.”
The honors orchestra performed advanced classical selections, including music from “Swan Lake” and the “Ruslan and Ludmila” overture — pieces Morgan said are rarely tackled by youth ensembles due to their difficulty.
“They were very difficult orchestral pieces that a lot of youth orchestras haven’t been able to play,” Morgan said. “It was breathtaking to perform them with high school musicians who could play them well at Carnegie Hall. They were some of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with.”
Morgan has played trumpet since sixth grade at Northridge Middle School and participates in Northridge High’s marching, symphonic, and jazz bands. He is also a two-year member of The University of Alabama Campus Orchestra.
During his freshman year, he earned third chair in the Alabama All-State Red Band — the highest placement achieved by a Northridge student at that time, according to the school system.
He practices about an hour most days and said consistent work helped prepare him for the opportunity.
“I feel like this is a great testament to practicing and working hard,” Morgan said.
Morgan plans to major in accounting in college while possibly minoring or double majoring in music performance. He says he intends to continue playing regardless of his career path.
“No matter what, I want to keep playing after high school,” he said. “Music is a great hobby for me, and I just love it.”
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
