Student Voices: Y'Vonne Thomas

The glow of the lights from the stage at Carnegie Hall still shines in the eyes of Y’Vonne Thomas, now a junior at Radford University. The soft-spoken music therapy major was blown away by the appearance of the massive concert hall, down to the cushioned seats and the unforgettable sound.

“We sounded amazing. I thought we sounded great. The acoustics in there were amazing. Vibrato, and then when you stopped singing, you could hear it bounce back to you. It was breathtaking,” Thomas said.

Photos of past notable performers lined the halls and screens on the walk from a backstage entrance to centerstage. The magnitude of the experience settled in during that walk with the group.

“I saw an animated slideshow, and I was watching it and was like, how did I make it here?” Thomas said.

The answer is simple: perseverance, grit and curiosity, all things Radford University and her director, Meredith Bowen, entrusted within her to reach this moment. This experience was unforgettable for her. It left her speechless as she tried to grasp the enormity of performing on one of the most well-known stages in the world.

“I could not have asked for a better choir to come to Carnegie Hall and perform with,” Thomas said. “For some people, this is like a dream come true for them. Being a Highlander pushes you to do your best, so you can achieve these things.”