Just hours before stepping onto the stage at Carnegie Hall, Lars Han ’27 is calm. For most performers, the weight of the moment — the audience, the history, the pressure — would be hard to ignore. But for Lars, this isn’t his first time, it’s his third. 

Lars first performed there in December 2023 after placing second in the American Protégé International Music Competition, returned in April 2025 following a first-place finish, and today he takes the stage again after earning top honors once more. Along the way, he has worked closely with Director of Music Dr. Ryan Burns, preparing recordings and refining his pieces, each appearance marking a step forward in his growth as an artist. 

"For some people, performing on a big stage is nerve-wracking, and I do get nervous," he said. "But honestly, performing at school feels even more nerve-wracking to me."

Lars’s  confidence didn’t arrive all at once. It was built over time: in early morning practice rooms, through recordings revised again and again, and in the quiet discipline of showing up every day. 

That same kind of dedication recently led clarinetist Mika Yuju Ha ’28 to her first performance at Carnegie Hall. On March 7, 2026, she performed on the iconic stage after earning First Prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards, an international competition that draws young musicians from around the world.

“I was very excited but also very nervous,” Mika said. “There were a lot of people watching, and all the performers were so talented.” 

Despite meeting her accompanist for the first time that day and performing late in the program, she rose to the occasion and performed beautifully. Mika is already looking ahead to her next competition and hopes to pursue a music minor in college.

Sabrina Salazar ’28 is also gaining recognition beyond Pomfret. She was recently named First Prize winner in the Age 15 Vocal Category at the Charleston International Music Competition for her performance of “Breathe” from In the Heights, a piece that showcased both her control and emotional connection to the music. Like Lars, Sabrina has spent time working with Dr. Burns developing audition materials and building skills that extend far beyond any single performance.
 

"Working with Dr. Burns really helped me prepare, but more than that, he's shown me that performing isn’t just about winning or pleasing a crowd, it’s about telling a story,” she said. “When I bring a character to life in a song and share that story, it feels even more meaningful than the award itself."

These experiences don’t happen in isolation. They reflect countless hours of preparation, recording, revising, and trying again, while also building connections within a wider musical community. In a field where relationships matter as much as talent, those early steps can leave a lasting mark.

“The recognition these students are receiving is really exciting, and I’m so proud of them,” says Dr. Burns. “And what’s equally important is the process behind it. They’re learning how to prepare, how to perform, and how to take that next step beyond Pomfret.”

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