A Pella High School graduate has journeyed with her trumpet from the stages of south central Iowa to one of the most prestigious venues in the nation.

University of Cincinnati Student Annaleigh Babcock was part of a unique performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City this past week. Babcock is the lead jazz trumpet performer for the school that honored Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Flaherty, a graduate of the same program Babcock is attending. Current students were joined by alumni who have since become stars of Broadway.

“It was, I think, the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Babcock says. “The first time I walked out on the stage to help up, I just stood there with my mouth open with how big the audience was and how pretty it was. And through the few songs I wasn’t playing, I was just waiting for the next song thinking, ‘wow, I’m really playing at Carnegie Hall right now.”

Annaleigh was a prolific soloist for the Pella Jazz I program, earning several honors as part of the ensemble that won the 2019 Class 3A championship, winning outstanding soloist honors twice in that competition. Babcock had her 2020 senior season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic before heading to the University of Cincinnati. She intends to continue her career in music and is in the process of applying to join the National Guard and their prestigious band program.

Hear more from Babcock on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.