'Practice, Practice, Practice': Wake middle school student one of 5 in the Triangle heading to Carnegie Hall
A Lufkin Road Middle School student will be traveling to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall next month.
Posted — UpdatedLaya Nathan, an eighth grader at Lufkin Road Middle School, has been studying music her entire life.
"I've always been exposed to music. My dad, he used to be really into it, and so I used to listen with him," she said. "I've always loved music."
At 14 years old, Laya has already lived up to her namesake — which means musical rhythm in Sanskrit. Her father recognized at an early age that Laya was talented and pushed her to try new things, she said.
Laya said she likes all different kinds of music, she's currently lead vocalist in Cary's School of Rock Band.
"I listen to it all, like punk, rock, classical, western classical," Nathan said. "I even like the blues too."
But at Carnegie Hall, she will be singing with a classical choir.
The 2022 Middle School Honors Performance Series received thousands of submissions this year and selected "only the most talented performers," according to Marion Gomez, program director for the series.
Nathan will join four other Triangle students at Carnegie Hall.
"I knew it was like super prestigious and stuff, so I was not expecting much, but then when it came I was super excited," Nathan said.
During the pandemic, while Nathan was taking online classes, she started her own YouTube page to entertain her friends and extended family in India during lockdown.
This trip is a signal to her that life is getting back to normal as she's finally able to get back to performing in person.
For the future, Nathan said she hopes to join her high school's theater club and pursue acting.
The Honors Performance Series has been elevating talented and young musicians since the 1960s, according to their website. The performance will take place on Saturday, June 18, and is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased through the Carnegie Hall box office.
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