Rolesville, NC – April 13, 2018 – Tristen Khylil Johnson, a student at Zebulon Middle School, has been selected for the 2018 Middle School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. He will perform as a Cellist at Carnegie Hall in June 2018 with the Honors Junior Orchestra. Participation in this Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest rated middle school performers from across North America and select schools internationally.
Tristen auditioned this fall for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in his application and audition recording. Tristen will join other performers from 44 United States, several provinces of Canada, Ilse of Man, Mexico, and Taiwan.
According to Nancy Richardson, Program Director, “Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each Junior Finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing. We process thousands of nominations annually, selecting only the most talented performers. Working with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these student musicians never forget”.
Tristen is a seventh grader, who has studied music for only one and a half years. He is the principal cellist of the Zebulon Middle School String Ensemble, Zebulon, N.C. and the Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra, Wake Forest, NC. Tristen will perform as a cellist with the Junior Eastern Regional Orchestra (JERO), Fayetteville NC. Out of over 60 cellists across the state to audition for JERO, Tristen placed fifth in the top orchestra. This is an exceptional accomplishment for someone who has only studied cello for a little over one year.
Tristen has received several awards & honors including Junior Eastern Regional Orchestra 2018, Middle School Honor’s Performance Series Junior Orchestra 2018, Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra Student Leadership Award 2017, and Zebulon Middle School Piano Award 2017. Tristen also received 2nd place in the Shaw Project talent show which awarded him a free week of bible camp at Camp Dixie, Fayetteville, NC.
In response to his selection as a Junior Finalist, Tristen said, “When I found out that I made the orchestra, I was so excited! Not many people I know have ever been to New York, nor Carnegie Hall. I'm truly thankful for this opportunity."
Junior Finalists will come together for five days in June 2018 in New York City to have the opportunity to learn from different Conductors, in which Tristen’s Conductor is Kirt Mosier. Students will work with other Junior Finalists, and get a taste of New York City. The Saturday, June 23, performance is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased beginning 60 days prior to the performance through the Carnegie Hall box office.
The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school and middle school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall.
The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school and middle school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall. The Honors Performance Series is proudly presented by WorldStrides, the nation’s leading educational travel organization. Learn more by visiting www.honorsperformance.org and www.worldstrides.com
You may also contact Tristen’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Marcus & Sherepha Johnson at (919) 208-6747 or his orchestra instructor, Mrs. LaSaundra Booth at (919) 491-4792.
