Locust Valley High School junior Sara Nearenberg will perform in front of thousands of people at Radio City Music Hall on Dec. 8 ahead of the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular.
Nearenberg, 16, will be performing with their classmates at Long Island High School for the Arts in Syosset, where they travel to halfway through the school day to hone their performing skills. The exclusive ensemble will be singing acapella versions of “Carol of the Bells” and “We Need a Little Christmas" before the Rockettes take to the stage.
Nearenberg made the last-minute decision to submit and audition tape and sang the Star-Spangled Banner as part of the audition process.
“The idea of being on that stage is so surreal to me,” Nearenberg said. “When I saw myself on the cast list, I was so excited.”
An Upper Brookville native, Nearenberg has always been encouraged to explore their passion for theater and performing by parents. When they were eight years old, Nearenberg attended Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts in Wheatley Heights, New York and fell in love with the stage.
Nearenberg has been a constant for the Locust Valley High School chamber singers, concert chorale, Jesters and playing the trumpet in the jazz and symphonic bands throughout their first three years there. They often play the trumpet at school concerts and assemblies and take lead parts in the dramas and musicals.
Nearenberg has been inspired in Locust Valley by their music teachers Mr. Vincent Guerra and Ms. Brianna Brickman. “They are so helpful and encouraging,” Nearenberg said. “Teachers matter. So many people who have gone into the industry would not be there if it wasn’t for teachers who kept them going.”
“Witnessing Sara’s journey in the performing arts has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Locust Valley’s Coordinator of Instructional Technology and the Fine and Applied Arts AnnMarie Buonaspina said. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and them performing at Radio City Music Hall is a true testament to their dedication to their craft.”