Finley’s Keenan Lyons Performs at Carnegie Hall
J. Taylor Finley Middle School eighth grader Keenan Lyons enjoyed an experience that most people can only dream about. He recently sang at Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most famous performance venues.
Practice, practice and more practice. Mr. Lyons has grown accustomed to a life of repeatedly striving to maximize his performing skills. He was among about 20 young performers who repeatedly rehearsed so they were ready to take the stage in the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall inside Carnegie Hal on a recent Friday night.
“With 268 seats, the elegant, intimate Weill Recital Hall is home each season to hundreds of recitals, chamber music concerts, panel discussions and master classes,” according to the Carnegie Hall website. “At many of these events, you’re likely to find young musicians making their New York debuts.”
Mr. Lyons and his fellow performers ranged in age from 9-18. They practiced for several months in the run-up to the big night. The performers were selected from over 100 applicants for the Procida Creative International (www.procidacreative.com) production of “PCI’s Broadway: Next Generation.”
Hosted by three young actors with great comedic timing, the evening saw each performer take he stage as part of a very well-orchestrated program. Some performed duets while many had solos. All were accompanied by Ted Arthur on piano.
Vocal numbers ranged from those in well-known musicals such as Into the Woods, The Lion King and A Chorus Line to Anything Goes, Funny Girl and Pippin. This wasn’t Mr. Lyons’ first experience working with PCI. In December, he was Logan, the male lead in the world premiere of Reddi High.
“The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall is an absolute stand-out in my two-year experience in theater so far,” Mr. Lyons said. He sang “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin to an audience of 300, which included talent scouts and casting directors.
The performers were delighted to get feedback from talent scouts in the audience. “Love your energy and your look; this is a part you’ll play for sure some day,” said one talent professional about Mr. Lyons.
No stranger to the stage, Mr. Lyons has been performing as a musician for nearly a decade. Inspired by an early beginning as a violinist, he continued to pursue other musical endeavors and several years ago the artistry of singing began. A longtime member of the chorus, the talented young man began to audition and appear in school plays.
Mr. Lyons appeared in the Manhattan School of Music’s musical Nine, as young Guido. “I was one of the few kids in this production,” he said. “I learned so much from the seasoned college and graduate students as well as the professional directors. It was at MSM that I got bit by the theater bug!”
The Finley eighth grader has performed at the John W. Engeman Theatre in Les Miserables (Gavroche) and Into the Woods. Last summer, Mr. Lyons performed as Lefou in the Manhattan School of Music’s Beauty and the Beast production.
When asked which is his favorite, voice or violin, Mr. Lyons had a ready answer. “I really love both for different reasons,” he said. “The biggest challenge is how to keep both in my life. For now it all works.”
Mr. Lyons was recently accepted by the Manhattan School of Music for a second year with its prestigious summer program. Last year, he played the role of Linus in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and this year he will be Mr. Mayor in Seussical at J. Taylor Finely Middle School.
Violin is still a significant part of Mr. Lyons’ life, too. He is a member of Finley’s orchestra and honors orchestra as well as a violinist in Gemini Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonia.
The eighth grader is in his third year with the Gemini Youth Orchestra. Placement in any one of its five programs is based on aptitude and technique during the audition process. Each year all five levels demonstrate their accomplishment in a festive gala concert at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center.
“The life of a person on stage always comes with highs and lows; you never know when the next opportunity will come,” Mr. Lyons said. “I love musical theater and I love singing, but I also can see myself as a news anchor one day.” It seems the young man enjoys multiple types of performing.
“I am grateful for the efforts of all of my Huntington School District chorus and orchestra teachers and I am looking forward to attending Huntington High School and taking advantage of all of its wonderful opportunities,” Mr. Lyons said.