Members of the Nathan Hale High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble have been selected to perform at the 3rd annual Vocal Jazz Extravaganza in New York City's prestigious Carnegie Hall on Feb. 21.

The group, which consists of 10th and 11th graders, was one of only nine vocal jazz ensembles from throughout the nation to perform at Carnegie. The Nathan Hale group was selected after competing before a panel of more than 100 professional singers and adjudicators.

The honor is especially significant considering the fact that just six years ago Nathan Hale had no choir to speak of and only a 13-person band. Thanks to the school's Director of Music, Rich Sumstad, the school now boasts a 200-student music department with a 70-person concert band and award-winning jazz and vocal jazz ensembles.