Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; April 21, 2026)—Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, is thrilled to announce the return of the NYC All-City High School Music Program End-of-Year Showcase on Sunday, May 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.

Originally presented by Carnegie Hall throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the All-City Showcase is an exciting opportunity for New York City high school students to celebrate their hard work throughout the school year in culminating performances for friends and family on the Hall’s most historic stage. The upcoming May showcase will be the first time this event has been presented by Carnegie Hall since 1990, bringing back a beloved tradition for NYC students.

The upcoming showcase features six ensembles who are a part of the All-City High School Music Program. Established in 1936, the program gives New York City students the opportunity to hone their musical skills and artistry with peers under the guidance of dedicated NYC Public Schools music teachers in collaboration with professional musicians from the city’s top arts organizations, including Carnegie Hall. The ensembles featured on the upcoming showcase include the All-City Chorus, All-City Concert Band, All-City Jazz Ensemble, All-City Latin Ensemble, All-City Marching Band, and All-City Orchestra. Saxophonist Vincent Herring joins as a featured guest soloist with the All-City Latin Ensemble and All-City Jazz Ensemble, following workshops and masterclasses with the groups in rehearsals. In total, more than 300 students will participate in the May event.

The showcase will feature music from the past—including Beethoven, Duke Ellington, and Mozart—to the present—including Britney Spears, John Mackey, and Antônio Carlos Marques Pinto. The All-City Concert Band will offer the world premiere of a new work by Kelijah Dunton (commissioned by the NYC Department of Education), an All-City alum and graduate of the Grand Street High Schools in Brooklyn. Tickets are free and general admission and are now available to reserve online.

“We are thrilled to revive this cherished tradition alongside the NYC Department of Education (DOE), bringing the extraordinary talent of young New Yorkers to Carnegie Hall’s main stage,” said Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer and Director of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. “Hosting this celebration is a testament to our enduring partnership with the DOE and our shared commitment to championing the artistry of the next generation. We invite family and friends to join us to honor these remarkable teens and the dedication they’ve poured into their instruments over the past school year.”

"NYC Public Schools is proud to partner with Carnegie Hall to bring back this extraordinary tradition that celebrates the artistry, discipline, and joy of our student musicians,” said Paul Thompson, Executive Director of the Arts Office for NYC Public Schools. “The All-City High School Music Program, established in 1936, is a powerful example of what is possible when young people are given sustained access to high-quality arts instruction, mentorship, and performance opportunities at the highest level. We are thrilled to see more than 300 students take the Stern stage and share their voices with the city.”

Carnegie Hall Supports Artistic Excellence as the NYC Department of Education’s Leading Arts Partner

Carnegie Hall has been a longstanding partner of the New York City Department of Education, offering collaboration with both schoolyear and summer programs through the hiring of teaching artists, coordinating facilitation for Professional Learning Days, organizing after-school programs, and serving as a thought partner for future planning. Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute also supports New York City Public Schools through Musical Explorers, a program for K–2 students that builds fundamental music skills through music from around the world; Link Up, a program for grades 3–5 which invites kids to become a part of the orchestra; Music Educators Workshop, a professional development and music-making program for New York City teachers; and the Ensemble Connect School Partnership, which pairs current fellows with a NYC music classroom for a two year residency.

In addition to May 10, All-City's 7th group—the All-City Modern Music Project—will have its own stand-alone private concert for friends and family on June 17 in Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Room.

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About Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute

Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) creates visionary programs that embody Carnegie Hall’s commitment to music education, playing a central role in fulfilling the Hall’s mission of making great music accessible to as many people as possible. With unparalleled access to the world’s greatest artists, WMI’s programs are designed to inspire audiences of all ages, nurture tomorrow’s musical talent, and harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. An integral part of Carnegie Hall’s concert season, these programs facilitate creative expression, develop musical skills and capacities at all levels, and encourage participants to make lifelong personal connections to music.

More than 800,000 people each year engage in WMI’s programs through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. This includes more than 155 orchestras, music presenters, and education organizations in 40 states as well as internationally in 15 countries on 6 continents. WMI’s hands-on programs tap into the creativity of audiences of all ages, inviting them to make their own music in all genres, express their viewpoints, and raise their voices. WMI shares an extensive range of online music education resources and program materials for free with teachers, families, orchestras, arts organizations, and music lovers worldwide. As a leader in music education, WMI generates new knowledge through original research, which inform Carnegie Hall’s own programs and are also available as a resource to artists, organizations, and peers.

For more information, please visit: carnegiehall.org/education
 

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This event is presented in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.

 

 

Photo credit: Alvaro Saavedra