With arms smoothly flowing to and fro and eyes darting around the room, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) orchestra director Bryan Kolk is clearly in tune with the music and the students skillfully lifting those songs into the air.

Welcome to the MIHS music classroom on a recent afternoon, approximately a month before most of these Islanders will be firmly grasping those instruments and displaying their talent at the renowned and sparkling Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The precise time of the performance will be 3 p.m. on April 19 as part of the National Band and Orchestra Festival. And MIHS students are stoked to be participating in the prestigious event.

“It’s the pinnacle hall in the U.S. I don’t think if you asked an ordinary person, they could name any other orchestral concert hall like Carnegie. It’s really exciting,” said junior double bassist Leo Saloranta.

It will be sophomore viola player Chloe Long’s second performance at Carnegie. She previously appeared on that grand stage as a solo pianist after winning the American Virtuoso Music Competition.

“Instead of being a solo performer, I’m performing with this large ensemble with my friends, with my fellow musicians. I’m really excited to be on the stage to help a larger ensemble produce a bigger piece,” she said.

It is the first time a MIHS orchestra will perform at Carnegie Hall.

Seventy-five MIHS performers in grades 9-12 will be traveling to Carnegie Hall along with Kolk and some parents. The Island performing group is a combination of students from the school’s freshman orchestra, non-audition ensemble and audition ensemble.

Last year, Kolk submitted audio recordings of the orchestra to the selection committee and the locals received the nod to join eight other national ensembles at the WorldStrides-presented event from April 16-20.

“They heard our recording and decided that we would be a representative ensemble, capable of participating alongside of other orchestras and bands from around the country,” Kolk said. “I think the strengths are we’ve got a well-supported program, a community that supports our students’ passions. And we’ve got students that rise to meet these passions.”

That community involved with the orchestra helps feature the students at their zenith, Kolk said.

Kolk added that the boosters organization provided scholarships to any students who requested assistance for trip funds. “We want to ensure that anyone who wishes to go, who’s earned a spot on that stage, is not financially prevented from being able to go,” he said.

During the orchestra’s nearly 30-minute set, it will roll through five pieces by Jordan Jinosko, Bach, Cuban and Hungarian dance tunes by Jose White Lafitte and Brahms and an African dance tune by Fede Sowande.

“It’s just us making the most beautiful music we can on that stage for about 30 minutes,” Kolk said with a smile. “I’m honored to just be able to spend time with these people every day and to be an encouraging factor in their growth.”

Like Long, this will be Kolk’s second time gracing the Carnegie Hall stage. While teaching music in Michigan, he once took a high school orchestra to Carnegie for a performance that was a valuable experience for the growing musicians, he said. Kolk — who played piano and bass in his youth and focused on double bass in college — is currently in his 14th year of teaching, including his second year at MIHS.

Aside from performing at Carnegie, the MIHS crew will have ample time to check out “Hamilton” on Broadway, explore the financial district, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the High Line park and Chelsea Market.

Saloranta and Long are thrilled to perform at Carnegie Hall alongside the other Islanders, noting that each step of the journey is a satisfying one.

“Sometimes you’ll get a piece and then it won’t sound super great, but every time you play it, it feels like you’re polishing a beautiful sculpture or something. It’s amazing,” Saloranta said.

Added Long about musicians connecting and bringing music to life: “You can listen to different parts and you can kind of listen to how the different parts interact and come together and form a beautiful piece.”

Mercer Island School District (MISD) Superintendent Fred Rundle provided some insight into the district’s fine arts offerings in a press release: “The orchestra’s trip to Carnegie Hall is another example of the great fine arts programs we have in MISD. Our teachers and staff provide so many opportunities for our students to showcase their talents and gain recognition not just on Mercer Island but also nationally.”

Mercer Island High School orchestra students perform in the classroom. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo

A pair of Mercer Island High School orchestra students focus on their performance. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo