Seaside's Robert Percell heads to Carnagie Hall. Again.

Robert Percell, a junior at Seaside High School, has been selected for the 2016 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. He will perform on cello during Carnegie Hall’s 125th anniversary season in February with the Honors Orchestra.

It will be the third time that Robert will join the Honors group, and he's thrilled.

“I’m so excited I will have this opportunity again!" he told Theresa Hruby, artistic director of Seaside High music department. "It’s never going to get old because it’s Carnegie Hall and it’s an amazing experience. I love getting to perform original works by great composers with exceptional musicians from around the world.”

Earlier this school year, Robert auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Robert will join other performers from all 49 United States, Guam, four Canadian provinces, and a number of foreign countries for a special performance at world-famous Carnegie Hall, a venue that marks the pinnacle of musical achievement.

“Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing," said in a statement Morgan Smith, program director. "We processed more than 18,000 nominations this year and have selected nearly 750 of the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians never forget.”

So far, it's  a thrice-in-a-lifetime kind of experience for Robert.

The cellist has studied cello with Margie Dally of Carmel, since he was five. He is a member of the San Jose Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, which he toured with, performing in Portugal and Spain this past summer.

 Finalists will come together in New York City for five days in February. They will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other finalists, and get a taste of New York City. Two performances, an Honors Choral Performance and an Honors Instrumental Performance, will take place February 7, and are open to the public. Tickets can be purchased beginning 60 days prior to the performance through the Carnegie Hall box office.

The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in the celebrated venue, Carnegie Hall.

Congratulations, Robert! Watch him perform in this video my fabulous colleague Vern Fisher took last year.