NEW YORK - When Al Roker asks you how you get to Carnegie Hall, there's only one correct answer: Practice, practice, practice.
Four Monroe High School students know that - they got to chat with Roker when they appeared in the audience of the NBC's "Today Show" earlier this morning. Their appearance on national television caps off a whirlwind tour of New York City that included a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall Monday night.
Monroe vocal music teacher Judy Bennett took 14 chorus students to New York City. They left Friday at 2:30 a.m., flying out of the Milwaukee airport, and will arrive home late this afternoon.
Students had four-hour rehearsals each day, Bennett said. But they also had time for the full New York experience. Students broke into small groups to see different Broadway musicals such as "Rent," "Grease," "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde." They went to the top of Empire State Building and skating at Rockefeller Center. There was even a little time for shopping, Bennett said.
But the highlight of the trip was Carnegie Hall, where they sang Mozart's "Requiem" before a full house and received a standing ovation Monday.
After the performance, students took a dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Because they arrived back at their hotel after 2 a.m., most of the students opted not to wake up at 4:45 this morning to meet Bennett and walk the nine "New York" blocks to the "Today Show," Bennett said.
But four girls - Jessica Hughes, Paige Hoesly, Nicole Heinen and Cassandra Shaker - braved the cold and just a few hours sleep to stand outside 30 Rock to see the show.
"It was cold," Bennett said. "Very cold. They are four brave souls."
Bennett said she couldn't find tagboard, but was able to get some shirtboxes for signs that read "Monroe, Wisconsin", "Go Cheese," and "MHS Choir at Carnegie Hall."
There weren't a lot of people there, which Bennett attributes to the weather and Tuesday's return to school after the Presidents' Day holiday. There was, however, free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, bagels, coffee and hot chocolate for the audience.
That wasn't the only bonus the girls got for their early-morning adventure. During a weather segment, Roker noticed the group and talked with them. He asked the girls where they were from, and when they were singing at Carnegie Hall.
"When he asked, 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?', we said 'Practice, practice, practice,'" Bennett said.
This is the third time a group from Monroe has traveled to New York to sing at Carnegie Hall. The performance is by invitation only, and the students put in many hours rehearsing and preparing for the performance.
And it's all worth it when the kids get to see New York and experience the thrill of performing at one of the most famous music venues in the world.
"New York is so clean and so friendly," Bennett said. "The kids just have a great time."
Four Monroe High School students know that - they got to chat with Roker when they appeared in the audience of the NBC's "Today Show" earlier this morning. Their appearance on national television caps off a whirlwind tour of New York City that included a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall Monday night.
Monroe vocal music teacher Judy Bennett took 14 chorus students to New York City. They left Friday at 2:30 a.m., flying out of the Milwaukee airport, and will arrive home late this afternoon.
Students had four-hour rehearsals each day, Bennett said. But they also had time for the full New York experience. Students broke into small groups to see different Broadway musicals such as "Rent," "Grease," "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde." They went to the top of Empire State Building and skating at Rockefeller Center. There was even a little time for shopping, Bennett said.
But the highlight of the trip was Carnegie Hall, where they sang Mozart's "Requiem" before a full house and received a standing ovation Monday.
After the performance, students took a dinner cruise around the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Because they arrived back at their hotel after 2 a.m., most of the students opted not to wake up at 4:45 this morning to meet Bennett and walk the nine "New York" blocks to the "Today Show," Bennett said.
But four girls - Jessica Hughes, Paige Hoesly, Nicole Heinen and Cassandra Shaker - braved the cold and just a few hours sleep to stand outside 30 Rock to see the show.
"It was cold," Bennett said. "Very cold. They are four brave souls."
Bennett said she couldn't find tagboard, but was able to get some shirtboxes for signs that read "Monroe, Wisconsin", "Go Cheese," and "MHS Choir at Carnegie Hall."
There weren't a lot of people there, which Bennett attributes to the weather and Tuesday's return to school after the Presidents' Day holiday. There was, however, free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, bagels, coffee and hot chocolate for the audience.
That wasn't the only bonus the girls got for their early-morning adventure. During a weather segment, Roker noticed the group and talked with them. He asked the girls where they were from, and when they were singing at Carnegie Hall.
"When he asked, 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?', we said 'Practice, practice, practice,'" Bennett said.
This is the third time a group from Monroe has traveled to New York to sing at Carnegie Hall. The performance is by invitation only, and the students put in many hours rehearsing and preparing for the performance.
And it's all worth it when the kids get to see New York and experience the thrill of performing at one of the most famous music venues in the world.
"New York is so clean and so friendly," Bennett said. "The kids just have a great time."