A milestone performance at Carnegie Hall becomes part of a week of connection, as Elon Wind Ensemble students share their music and meet alumni on Broadway.
For members of elon university’s wind ensemble, their trip to New York City in March was about more than a single performance. It was a week defined by connection: to music, to mentors and to the possibilities that await beyond campus.
That journey culminated on March 11, when the ensemble took the stage at Carnegie Hall for the first time in university history, performing as part of the New York Wind Band Festival. For the 51 student musicians, who represent majors from across the university, the moment carried both personal and collective significance.
“There is so much history at Carnegie Hall,” says Jonathan Poquette, Fletcher Moore Distinguished Emerging Scholar and director of bands. “The fact that we are now part of that history is quite remarkable.”
Months of preparation led to a program that reflected both technical precision and artistic ambition, including a piece by Associate Professor of Music Todd Coleman. But for students, the experience extended far beyond the performance itself.
“Being able to perform on such an iconic stage was truly extraordinary,” says Astrid Hughes ’27, a statistics major and clarinetist. “I have been playing the clarinet for around 10 years and have never been in such awe of a space I was performing in. The music we were able to create in that space is unlike anything I have ever done before. It was a product of all the hard work we put in as an ensemble.”
That sense of awe and accomplishment was shaped throughout the week by a series of experiences that deepened students’ understanding of what a life in the arts can look like.
The ensemble first performed at high schools in Delaware and Staten Island, sharing their music with younger students and building confidence ahead of their Carnegie Hall debut. For many in those audiences, it was their first time hearing a collegiate wind ensemble in person, an introduction that underscored the lasting role music can play beyond high school.
In New York, the learning continued in a different setting: Broadway.
Students attended performances of “Aladdin” and “The Book of Mormon,” where they also connected with Elon alumni now performing on some of the world’s most prominent stages. After the shows, alumni welcomed students backstage, offering a glimpse into the professional world of theater.
Being able to perform on such an iconic stage was truly extraordinary. — Astrid Hughes ’27
Michael Callahan ’13 and Campy Rodriguez ’26 hosted students following a performance of “Aladdin,” sharing their journeys and leading a behind-the-scenes tour. Callahan, a swing who covers multiple roles and serves as dance and fight captain, and Rodriguez, making his Broadway debut, spoke about the discipline and versatility required to sustain a career in the arts.
“Getting to meet Michael and Campy made such a big city feel like a small world,” says Alana Driver ’27, a flutist. “It was inspiring to hear about their journeys and see how their experiences at Elon helped lead them to where they are now.”
Another group met ensemble cast member Andrew Stevens Purdy ’20 following a performance of “The Book of Mormon,” stepping onto the stage and seeing firsthand the complexity of a Broadway production — from props and lighting to the choreography happening just out of view.
Those moments helped students connect their own experiences at Elon with the paths forged by those who came before them.
“This was a collaborative event, and I am so proud of the students and all their hard work,” Poquette says. “They represented themselves, the band program, the Department of Music and the university with the highest level of professionalism and class.”
Beyond Broadway, the group explored the city between performances, taking in views from atop Rockefeller Center and interacting with composers and guest artists. Each moment added another layer to a trip designed not just to showcase talent, but to broaden perspective.
When the ensemble finally took the stage at Carnegie Hall, those layers came together in a defining moment. The performance ended with a standing ovation — a reflection not only of musical excellence, but of the journey that led there.
And long after the final note faded inside one of the world’s most storied concert halls, the experience itself continues to resonate as a reminder that at Elon, the path to extraordinary moments is built through both preparation and possibility