Old Mill Road student performs at Carnegie Hall

Julia Losner, a sixth-grader at Old Mill Road Elementary School in North Merrick, performed at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan on Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 as part of the children’s chorus with the New York Pops, an independent orchestra.

The concert was a celebration of the holiday season, and featured Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Losner was selected as one 60 performers for the children’s chorus after she auditioned in New York City through Camp Broadway, where trained professionals teach children about musical theater. The selected performers ranged from age 10 to 17, and came from 12 states and more than 36 cities around the U.S, according to Judy Losner, Julia’s mom.

In addition to these two evening programs, the orchestra presented a retelling of the Dr. Seuss holiday classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at a Saturday afternoon concert on Dec. 11.

The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the U.S., and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music, according to the group’s website.

“Performing with the New York Pops is just like a dream come true,” Losner said.

This wasn’t Losner’s first time on stage. Previously, she appeared in Diamond Gypsy’s productions of “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Annie” and “Fiddler on The Roof.” Her other performances include roles in “Once On This Island” and “13 the Musical” at the Appel Farm Arts and Music Center in New Jersey. She has also performed with Mandy Gonzalez, now a lead performer in the Broadway musical “Wicked,” and Nikki Blonsky, an actress and singer best known for her role in the 2007 movie version of the musical “Hairspray.”

Losner began singing and performing when she was 8 years old. She received her first stage role at 9, after her mother brought her along to accompany her sister, Sarah, at an audition for a production of “Annie.” However, after asking if she could also audition, her mother relented. She was eventually cast as the character Little Jake.

“We’re very proud,” said Judy Losner. "We’re not sure how we got from having her tag along at an audition to performing at Carnegie Hall, but it’s very exciting.”

In addition to performing on stage, Losner sings in the Old Mill Road School chorus. She also plays the piano, violin and the guitar, and has taken eight years of dance lessons. When asked if she desired to pursue a singing career when she gets older, Losner responded with one word: “Definitely.”

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