Music teacher Corey Bartell performs at Carnegie Hall

Most musicians dream of one day performing in renowned concert halls that have hosted gifted musicians showcasing their craft for years. For Corey Bartell, this was a dream come true.

Bartell, a product of West Scranton High School, has been a teacher within the district for 18 years. He teaches at both John F. Kennedy Elementary School and Robert Morris Elementary School. Bartell studied Music Education at Marywood University, which is how he came to be involved with his performance at Carnegie Hall.

Professor of Music at Marywood University, Dr. Rick Hoffenberg, posted on Facebook in the summer of 2025, announcing that he had been selected as a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall through MidAmerica Productions. MidAmerica Productions is a music production company that brings together conductors, soloists, and ensembles for performances across the globe. From their website, their mission states that “ MidAmerica Productions is dedicated to empowering and enriching the lives of diverse artists, ensembles, educators and audiences through the creation of exceptional musical performances across the globe.”

In his post, Dr. Hoffenberg asked any current Marywood students or alumni involved with the choir to join him in performing at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2026. Bartell, who sang with the Marywood Campus Choir for two years, jumped at the opportunity.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just emailed him and asked if it was just for students But he proceeded to tell me it’s for anyone who wanted to go. We had to pay for it, but it was priceless. It was a really great experience,” said Bartell.

Seizing the opportunity, Bartell and other passionate musicians made their way to New York City for the performance. Upon arrival, Bartell was given a schedule with rehearsal times at a small church in Manhattan two days prior to the performance.

“In my mind, I thought we were going to be practicing on the stage, but Carnegie Hall is a very, very busy place,” said Bartell.

There were 104 singers in the group, accompanied by the New England symphonic ensemble, a full orchestra that played alongside Bartell and his peers. Bartell said that the group rehearsed for two days, with one rehearsal spanning five hours, and the second lasting three hours.

“It may seem like a long time, but we had limited time to put the music together and hear what we sound like as a group. Then we had maybe 40 minutes to rehearse with the orchestra an hour before we were supposed to sing,” noted Bartell.

Before the first rehearsal, Bartell was nervous, but those nerves quickly shifted to awe once reality set in and he processed where he was standing and what he was about to do.

“As soon as I walked down to the stage, it was overwhelming. I had to take a good couple of minutes to soak it all in,” said Bartell, “For me, to be able to say you stood on the stage where Leonard Bernstein stood, where we performed one of his pieces, and where all of these famous conductors, performers, and orchestras all throughout history performed. It just felt surreal.”

Bartell also took great pride in being able to represent the Scranton School District as both a current teacher and as a West Scranton alumnus.

“It was just an honor for me to do that because I am a proud product of the Scranton School District,” said Bartell.

On top of his performance at Carnegie Hall, Bartell has also represented the District at multiple conferences, which is driven by his desire to show the students he teaches that they can do anything they set their mind to.

“As the kids I teach get older, I want to show them if they work hard and set goals for themselves, sometimes they’ll get a great opportunity,” said Bartell.
As a teacher, Bartell imparts to his students the power that music holds as he cultivates their love and respect for music through his teaching.

“Music is the universal language of the world. We come into contact with music every day. We experience it every day, and it is a pretty powerful thing we have in this world,” said Bartell, “It can bring people together, and you don’t have to say one word.”