photo by: Contributed

Ashton Rapp

A Lawrence High School senior will soon get the chance to sing in one of the most famous performance venues in the world.

Ashton Rapp was recently selected to participate in the 2022 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He is scheduled to sing bass with the program’s concert choir in February, according to a news release from WorldStrides, the educational travel company presenting the program.

Rapp’s selection for the program alone is an impressive feat, as it means he is one of the highest-rated high school performers in the world.

LHS Director of Choral Activities Dwayne Dunn said that before Rapp was chosen for the Carnegie Hall performance, he was selected to All-National Choirs by the National Association for Music Education.

“He’s always looking for a way to share his talents to reach the next level and get an experience that he thinks is going to further this interest in becoming a professional singer,” Dunn told the Journal-World recently. “I’m always just amazed at the next step on the ladder for him.”

For his selection, Rapp was audited by the Honors Performance Series earlier this year and was recently accepted after another review by the Honors Selection Board, according to a news release from the organization.

As a participant, Rapp will join performers from across the country, as well as students from Australia, Bermuda, China, Guam and South Korea for a special performance. The finalists will come together in New York City for five days in February.

He will also have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other student finalists and get a taste of New York City. Then two performances, an Honors Instrumental Performance and Honors Choral Performance, will take place on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, respectively. Both are open to the public.

“I am super excited to perform with the Honors Performance Series in New York because it marks a great accomplishment in my vocal career,” Rapp said, according to the news release. “I wish to go into vocal performance in college and with this grand opportunity that is open to me, I feel like I’m closer to achieving my dreams.”

It will also be a nice change of pace, as Rapp had previously been selected for similar programs but was unable to perform in person because of the coronavirus pandemic. Dunn said during the All-National Choir performances, the students had to perform virtually.

“He’s looking forward to that chance to go to be in that room with all these fantastic singers and a fantastic conductor,” Dunn said. “We’re really excited for him.”

After his high school graduation, Rapp plans to continue his music career. Dunn said he intends to study vocal performance in college, but where that will be has not yet been decided. Rapp is currently looking at many prestigious music schools.

“He’s shooting for the stars,” Dunn said. “But if you look at his accomplishments, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. This is the kind of stuff he does.”

Rapp currently studies music privately with Kansas City-area vocal performer Vanessa Thomas and is a member of A Cappella and Chorale at LHS. He also participated in marching band as a drum major, earned a 4.0 GPA and was recently recognized by the Lawrence Public Schools Foundation as a “Student Champion of the Arts.”

Dunn said the LHS choir is proud of Rapp and his accomplishments.

“He’s a great student and a fantastic representative for our community,” Dunn said.