“How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?”
Ava in CS Gazebo - photo taken by Justin Goldman
“Practice! Practice! Practice!”
At least that’s how the old joke goes. But according to neighbor Ava Avila, it’s no joke!
Ava will be appearing at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Saturday, June 1, 2024, and practicing has been her main occupation since the summer of 2023. Here’s the back story:
Ava and her husband Justin moved into Cameron Station in August, 2019. They fell in love with the neighborhood from the start, and Ava decided she wanted to contribute to her community by volunteering on a committee. She chose the Communications Committee (ComCom) and joined its Welcome Subcommittee.
A year and a half later, Justin had a new job opportunity in Hawaii, and they moved to Honolulu on the island of Oahu. However, they knew they wanted to return to Cameron Station some day, so they rented their home rather than sell it. And Ava continued to serve on the Welcome Committee (thank you Zoom and email!).
While they lived in Cameron Station, Ava and Justin were members of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alexandria, where Ava sang in the choir. In the summer of 2023, while still living in Hawaii, a friend and fellow choirmate from church emailed Ava about a call to sing in a concert with the Athens Master Chorale.
“‘And here was the hook,’ said Ava. ‘The concert is going to be held at Carnegie Hall in June 2024. At that time, my husband and I had already planned to return to Virginia in the spring of 2024 (trading one paradise for another, haha). But even if not, a chance to sing at Carnegie Hall is worth a trip back East!’”
AMC rehearsal - screenshot from virtual rehearsal by Ava
Ava emailed Joseph Napoli, the founder and conductor of the Athens Master Chorale, of her interest and was invited to join. The strong endorsement of Ava’s choirmate, who had previously sung with the Athens Master Chorale, carried the day. They rehearse once a month, and since the Chorale is located in Georgia, Ava and others not based in Georgia have been joining virtually.
“This is such an amazing opportunity,” says Ava, “and I am so excited to perform at Carnegie Hall with such talented musicians. The concert begins at 8pm on June 1 with over 150 singers from 13 states. Our choir will be performing Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor K.626 and will be accompanied by the New England Symphonic Ensemble. I would love to see my neighbors in the audience!”
It does sound like a fabulous performance in a fabulous venue in a fabulous city! If you think you may be able to attend, more information is available by clicking HERE.
Best of luck, Ava, and have a wonderful time!
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Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew, and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass. She warns that she is here to stay, regardless of the format!
Neighbors in the News is a recurring feature in The Compass. Cameron Station is filled with interesting people doing interesting things. If you would like to be recognized in a future article, or if you have a neighbor you think deserves recognition, please email information to thecompass@cameronstation.org.
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