Two very different musical backgrounds have led Aidan Phillips and Katie Trigg down the same path towards Carnegie Hall.
The St Paul’s Collegiate School students will be performing at the world-class venue early next year, a definite 'dream come true' for the pair.
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in New York City. Built in 1891, it is one of the most prestigious venues in the world for both classical music and popular music.
Both Katie and Aidan will make the trip as part of the High School Honors Performance Series.
Selected finalists in the "elite group" receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with and learn from renowned conductors.
When Katie was little, she watched a Barbie movie that inspired her to pursue a singing career.
"There was this character who was singing for money on the street, and I thought, as a seven-year-old that'd be really cool."
She asked her mum if she could follow the same line of work but her mother said Katie had to prove she was committed.
"I learned 10 songs from my primary school and I had to sing them for my grandparents and neighbours, and then I did so, and so she took me down to the Dinsdale supermarket and I sang out there for half an hour."
Katie made around $30 to fund singing lessons, and said she still often uses her busking money to pay for them.
For Aidan, it was musical theatre in the United Kingdom that kick-started his passion.
"I decided when I was in Year 6 that it would be a good idea to get out there and get an activity.
"My mum put me into a local drama club and we were putting on a musical version of Lord of the Flies."
From that point on, he’s enjoyed singing in shows, he said, and living in New Zealand has allowed him to take singing seriously.
Aidan said he’s wanted to be in at least one show every year, and has starred in local productions of We Will Rock You, Godspell and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – alongside Katie.
Now the pair have been selected to sing at Carnegie Hall, and Katie said she never dreamed it would happen so soon.
Leading up to the trip to New York, Aidan and Katie are planning on a series of fundraising concerts and busking sessions to raise the $4000 needed for their travels.
To get in touch with Aidan, email aidanphillipsmusic@gmail.com or for Katie visit: katietrigg.nz
