By Natalie Swanson ’13, “Arts & Entertainment” Editor

Carnegie Hall will echo with the melodious voices of Newark Academy’s very own choral ensemble, Academy Voices, at The American Christmas Carol benefit concert on the night of November 30th. The group will travel to New York City to sing as a part of a larger ensemble, comprised of four other high schools, alongside famous artists. The high school students and artists are performing to raise money for autism through the Golden Hat Foundation, founded by Kate Winslet.

Academy Voices is a smaller, more formal ensemble comprised of high school students. Auditions for the group are held at the beginning of every year, in which students must prepare music and perform solos. Formerly known as Evening Singers, the group changed its name in order to reflect “the level of seriousness of the group,” Mr. Lal, the choral director explained. “The name is simple, but it embodies who we are.”

Mr. Lal and Academy Voices have dedicated much of their time to rehearsals, in which they balance practice time between the upcoming performance in Carnegie Hall and the Winter Choral Concert. Both require completely different musical repertoire, which the group stays late after school to practice. Passing by the choral room after school, one can get a taste for the talents of Academy Voices from the voices seeping through the doors.

Major artists like Sarah McLachlan, Loreena McKennitt, Andrea Corr, and Haley Westenra will be performing at the upcoming concert.  Academy Voices became involved in the night when a good friend of Mr. Lal asked him to put together a choir of Newark Academy students to perform as a part of the larger ensemble. Tim Janis, the man behind the benefit concert production, chose the songs that the group will perform. Only Christmas Carols, like O Holy Night, Jingle Bells and Silent Night will be sung. Sarah McLachlan will perform Amazing Grace with the mega choir, with members of Academy Voices singing in the background. In addition, Academy Voices will sing The Storm is Passing Over and Little Lamb.

Andrew Adler, a sophomore and two-year member of Academy Voices, spoke about the Carnegie Concert. “I think it will be a really good experience, it is certainly the biggest audience we have had,” he remarked. Carter Beadsley ’13, can’t wait for the concert.”I am looking forward to hearing the sound that everyone can produce together. Hopefully it will create a great resonance,” he said.

Mr. Lal believes that the Christmas concert will be a “musical experience” for all involved. He expects it to be “extremely inspirational to be on stage with artists to raise money.” Tickets for the upcoming benefit can be bought on the Carnegie Hall website, and members of the Newark Academy community are encouraged to attend. For those who can’t make the trip to New York City, Academy Voices will perform in the auditorium as a part of the Winter Choral Concert on December 6th.