Earlier this month, senior Simon Kirjner was selected by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) to participate in a special performance class with Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Adam Guettel. He was one of 12 high school students chosen based on video auditions.

Kirjner traveled to Guettel’s studio in Manhattan, where he performed Frank Loesser’s “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” (from “Guys and Dolls”) and received direct feedback from Guettel, formerly a mentee of Stephen Sondheim.

“It was an amazing experience,” Kirjner said. “Every piece of feedback he gave me was invaluable, especially as I am going into college auditions.”