Sixth Grader Steals the Show

Have you ever been to a musical concert when a sixth grade soprano soloist twice stole the show from, as usual, a most sophisticated adult singing group and, also as usual, an outstanding professional orchestra to accompany?

I have and I loved it. The packed audience did, too.

All of it, indeed, beginning to end, including the singing of the National Anthem with the audience at the end.

It happened last Sunday afternoon at the final concert for the New Choral Society’s (NCS) 2025-2026 season in the sanctuary of the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church on Greenacres Avenue in Scarsdale. NCS was celebrating America250 with a concert of American composers, when Raphael Francis LaSalle, 11, the youth soprano soloist, smiling as he sang, and a sixth grader at the Seeley Place School in Edgemont, following in his mother’s and sister’s footsteps, and receiving three rounds of applause for his singing debut. He sang his part on two occasions in the second movement of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.

Raphael, with his sister Eleanora, used to hand out the flowers to the NCS soloists after their performances at the concerts. Now, Raphael is on the stage himself, not afraid, poised and professionally singing near Dr. John T. King, the Artistic Director and Conductor of NCS. It all just seemed so natural just like it was supposed to be. So wonderful it brought tears to my eyes.

A star indeed was born last Sunday afternoon. And believe it or not, the youngster, sitting calmly in the front pew before the concert even started, said he wasn’t the least bit nervous, and wondered how his youthful soccer team was doing because he had to miss the game as goalie due to his singing debut with NCS. The youngster was also learning about priorities and doing things one at a time in life.

In the very musical LaSalle family, Mom Emera is a soprano with NCS, and has been involved with NCS since 2021. Sister Eleanora, 14, now a freshman at Edgemont High School, sang a solo with the NCS group back in May 2024. It seems as a family they do a lot of things together. The father, John, is their biggest cheerleader and always on site and serving as an usher for the big show.

Not to be outdone, NCS also had an adult in the spotlight last Sunday. It was Jessica Meyer, who has played the viola in the NCS orchestra for 25 years. The group was honored to commission and play the world premiere of her “In the Hearts of People,” based on text from Eleanor Roosevelt’s 1951 Speech on Human Rights. Like Raphael, she took her bows to the audience’s clapping appreciation. The last piece on the concert was Randall Thompson’s rousing Testament of Freedom based on text by Thomas Jefferson, with the largest brass section the group has had occasion to use in many years.

A new performer recently added to the singing group was Kyle Pfortmiller, bass. Una Tone, Violin 1, was her usual solid, entertaining and energetic performer with a couple of smiles. Dorothy Kroenlein, an original NCS performer, a soprano, was also smiling all the time, and never missed a beat. Debra Hess, an alto, was traveling again from the state of Georgia to sing with this magnificent group of singers. Last, but not least, was Erica Westcott Kelly, an alto and the Executive Director of NCS, smiling and singing with lots of gusto throughout, as well just knowing how fortunate she is to serve in two positions with NCS.

And while we are handing out bouquets, thank you, Dr. King for your constant stewardship over the years.