National Homeschool Honor Choir Announces Auditions for Carnegie Hall Performance

Homeschooled High School Singers Invited to Audition for Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity in New York City on June 6, 2027

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NEW YORK, NY — MidAmerica Productions is proud to announce auditions for the inaugural National Homeschool Honor Choir, an exciting new national ensemble created exclusively for homeschooled high school singers across the United States. Selected students will travel to New York City to perform Dan Forrest's Requiem for the Living with the renowned New England Symphonic Ensemble in Carnegie Hall's historic Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Sunday, June 6, 2027.

Conducted by acclaimed educator and conductor Matthew Stephens, the National Homeschool Honor Choir offers talented young musicians an extraordinary opportunity to represent the homeschool community on one of the world's most celebrated stages.

Presented by MidAmerica Productions, the nation's largest presenter of large-scale choral and orchestral concerts at Carnegie Hall, the program combines months of guided musical preparation with an immersive five-day residency in New York City culminating in a professional concert alongside distinguished musicians from around the world.

"One of the greatest joys of my career has been creating meaningful opportunities that inspire young musicians to grow artistically while connecting with others who share their passion," said Candace Wicke, Coordinator of this project and Conductor & Program Development Associate at MidAmerica Productions. "That is why I am especially excited to introduce the National Homeschool Honor Choir—a remarkable new initiative that will bring together outstanding homeschool students from across the country for an unforgettable performance in Carnegie Hall under the direction of Matthew Stephens. This experience offers national recognition, exceptional artistic enrichment, and memories that will last a lifetime. I encourage every eligible student to explore this extraordinary opportunity."

A NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR DEDICATED YOUNG SINGERS

The National Homeschool Honor Choir is open to homeschooled high school students nationwide. Singers will be selected through a video audition process evaluating vocal ability, musicianship, and artistic potential.

Accepted students will spend the 2026–2027 season preparing Requiem for the Living through structured weekly assignments beginning in August 2026. Participants will learn alongside the host ensemble, the Academy Singers of South Austin Academy of Vocal Arts, arriving in New York fully prepared for intensive rehearsals and the final Carnegie Hall performance.

Complete audition materials, sheet music, practice tracks, and submission instructions are available online at https://www.midamerica-music.com/nhhc.

The audition deadline is September 15, 2026, although auditions are encouraged during late spring and summer as choir positions will be filled on a rolling basis and the audition portal will close once the ensemble reaches capacity.

RESIDENCY INFORMATION

Selected singers will participate in MidAmerica Productions' five-day residency in New York City prior to the performance.

Accepted singers will also purchase the official choral score and receive access to professionally produced vocal learning tracks to assist in their preparation throughout the season.

For complete audition information, eligibility requirements, and application materials, visit: https://www.midamerica-music.com/nhhc

For questions, contact Candace Wicke at cwicke@midamerica-music.com or 646-360-0176.

ABOUT MIDAMERICA PRODUCTIONS AND MIDAM INTERNATIONAL 

Founded by Conductor, Music Educator, and Entrepreneur Peter Tiboris over 40 years ago, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from the US and abroad to appear at New York’s top venues, including Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and Alice Tully Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Additionally, MidAmerica Productions has presented concerts in numerous US cities and in countries throughout the world, including Greece, England, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden, and Russia. MidAmerica Productions’ concerts have showcased choral groups singing oratorios with talented conductors, full orchestra, and professional soloists; individual instrumental and choral groups performing as part of the Ensemble Spotlight Series; and solo recitals. Diverse programs have included Madrigal Festivals, Vocal Jazz Festivals, National Wind Ensemble, National Festival Youth Orchestra, and Sweet Adelines. Among the renowned guest conductors who have led MidAmerica’s concerts are Sir John Rutter (who has conducted 150 concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall), Sherrill Milnes, Lukas Foss, Helmuth Rilling, H. Robert Reynolds, JoAnne Falletta, Michael Morgan, and Jonathan Willcocks. More than 900 conductors have conducted on MidAmerica’s series in New York and abroad, sharing the stage with 1,400 solo artists from the world’s greatest opera companies and concert stages, and 4,000 choral ensembles from the US and abroad. There have been more than 200 youth and collegiate orchestras as well as 180 youth and collegiate bands, jazz bands, and wind ensembles.

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