MCC teacher performs at Carnegie Hall, inspires students

Spartan News is presented by Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — For Mason County Central Elementary music teacher April Keith, performing at Carnegie Hall was more than a personal milestone — it has become a powerful source of inspiration for her students back home.

Keith took the stage April 11 in New York City as part of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus during the “Songs of the American Spirit” concert, a large-scale collaborative performance tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.

“There are no words to describe going to Carnegie Hall,” Keith said. “Basically, going out onto the stage is just like any other stage … but what made it memorable was doing something that nobody else has ever done before.”

At the center of the performance was the world premiere of “Franklin,” a major choral work by composer Z. Randall Stroope that explores the life and legacy of Benjamin Franklin.

The piece was commissioned as part of a national effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States and reflects on the ideals, struggles and contributions of one of the nation’s most influential founders.

Keith said the depth of the work made it especially meaningful to perform.

“It was all about Ben Franklin,” she said. “There’s just so much engulfed in this piece. It’s really moving.”

She noted the composition highlights lesser-known aspects of Franklin’s life, offering a broader historical perspective.

“Everybody knows George Washington, right? But this piece talks all about Ben Franklin … things people don’t always know,” Keith said.

The concert itself featured a large chorus made up of singers from across the country, along with student performers, reflecting the diversity and unity emphasized in the American Spirit series.

“America is made up of such a collaboration of people,” Keith said. “So many different nationalities … it was just a neat experience.”

That message has carried directly into her classrooms at Scottville Elementary and MCC Upper Elementary.

While the performance itself was significant, Keith said its impact has extended far beyond the stage — directly into her classrooms at Scottville Elementary and MCC Upper Elementary.

Keith has been sharing photos, stories and even a slideshow presentation with her students to help them understand the magnitude of Carnegie Hall and its place in music history.

“They know about Carnegie Hall, just because I’ve taught about it,” she said. “But I don’t know that they knew how many people have always gone through.”

Now, that understanding is becoming more personal.

“I think a lot of the kids are starting to pick up on that,” Keith said. “They’re like, ‘How was it?’ They want to know. And so that’s exciting.”

For many students, seeing their own teacher perform on one of the world’s most famous stages has made a lasting impression.

“They think I’m famous now, which that’s kind of funny,” Keith said.

Beyond the novelty, Keith said the experience is helping students see what is possible through music and dedication. By connecting her own journey to their daily classroom work — whether through recorder lessons, singing or music appreciation — she hopes to broaden their sense of opportunity.

“For me, that was exciting too, because I’ve never been inside,” she said of Carnegie Hall. “You’ve only ever seen pictures, right? And you just don’t know.”

That sense of discovery is something she now actively passes along to her students, emphasizing that even world-renowned venues are within reach.

Keith’s path to Carnegie Hall was not a straight line. A lifelong musician, she put her performance ambitions on hold while raising a family and building her teaching career. Joining the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus only recently, she said the opportunity was something she never expected.

“I never dreamed it. I never thought I’d go to Carnegie Hall, ever,” she said.

That message — that it is never too late to pursue a goal — has become central to what she shares with her students.

“You start somewhere. Someone sees something in you that you don’t see in yourself yet,” Keith said. “Whatever you wish to be, don’t give up on it, because you are the one who gets to decide when the end mark is.”

Keith said moments like these help reinforce the value of music education, not just as a subject, but as a way to build confidence and open doors.

“I get to give them a little bit more and let them just see that the world is bigger,” she said.

The Carnegie Hall performance itself also reflected that broader perspective. The chorus included singers of all ages from multiple states, as well as student performers — a detail Keith said resonated with her as an educator.

“I actually had two little freshmen to my right, and I had a freshman and a sophomore to my left,” she said. “You’re used to singing with adults, and so to have those children’s voices … was unique.”

That intergenerational collaboration mirrors what Keith fosters in her own classrooms, where young students are encouraged to see themselves as musicians from the very beginning.

Looking ahead, Keith’s musical journey is continuing. She is scheduled to travel with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus to Sydney, Australia, in 2027.

For her students in Scottville, however, the impact of her Carnegie Hall experience is already being felt — not just as a story about a prestigious performance, but as a real-life example of what passion, persistence and music can achieve.

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