The Fresno City College Wind Ensemble is living every musician’s dream of playing on a big stage.

Sixty FCC students performing ensemble for instrumentalists will be featured as a showcase ensemble at the New York International Music Festival on April 7-11, 2013, at Carnegie Hall, the ultimate big stage.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Fresno City College to showcase its stellar Wind Ensemble, to help further our goal of supporting the importance of music education and to inspire young musicians to continue their practice,” Deborah Gibbs, the CEO of World Projects, wrote in her invitation.

Dale Engstrom, brass and concert band instructor at FCC, said most of the bands attending the festival will get an opportunity to play a 20-minute slot.

However, the college’s Wind Ensemble will be the final performance for one of the two evening concerts and will play a 45-minute program on stage in the Isaac Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall.

“I know it would be the pinnacle of what I’m doing as a band director. To get to wave your arms on the stage of Carnegie Hall would be once in a lifetime thing,” said Engstrom. “Not only for me but for the students, it would be magical.”

Along with performing at Carnegie Hall, the Wind Ensemble was also selected as one of the bands to play at Central Park as a part of the music festival.

“This is a really unique opportunity. Not a lot of people that are outside in kind of professional world get to perform at such well-known and respected venue,” said FCC music student and Wind Ensemble member Jason Cruz. “And for a fact, Fresno City College to have this opportunity, it’s really kind of a remarkable event.”

The New York International Music Festival will also feature FCC Music Department Chair and Woodwinds instructor Larry Honda. He will perform a solo Serenade for alto saxophone and band by Frank Bencriscutto.

“I would’ve never imagined myself performing in a situation like that. That’s why I say it’s like a dream,” said Honda. “You almost don’t even bother to think about it. Yet, here it is happening and under these circumstances with my students.”

Wind Ensemble will hold a fundraising concert to help pay the trip expenses on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the FCC Theatre. They will play standard band literature and the audience will have an opportunity drawing with prizes of $300, $200 and $100.

Admissions are $8 general and $6 for students and seniors. Tickets to enter the opportunity drawing cost $10 each. Call FCC box office at 559-442-8221 for more information.