NEW YORK (AP) – A thunderous standing ovation from a crowd of 2,074 at Carnegie Hall confirmed what the Vermont Youth Orchestra already knew – their performance was worthy of the venerated stage.

“It was an absolute rush,” Molly Gibson, a Stowe High School senior, said of the performance last week. “With all that energy coming from such a huge audience, it was incredible to feel that vibe.”

The reputation of Vermont’s classical music community was riding on the shoulders of 95 high school students. The program included works from six Vermont composers.

“That was part of the point from the beginning,” said VYO conductor Troy Peters. “What we offer that’s unique is a repertoire of music composed in Vermont.”

Peters said despite a few minor glitches, fans heard an outstanding performance from a talented and committed group of musicians.

“With any performance, there are always going to be little blemishes,” Peters said. “But the overall experience was so positive and so incredibly energizing that none of that mattered.”

His musicians agreed. Most called the performance the best of their lives and attributed the exceptional sound to the enthusiastic audience.

“We played some of our best music tonight,” said South Burlington senior Conor Boehm. “To look around and to think you’re playing on the same stage as the most amazing musicians in the world is an honor and a thrill.”

The technically demanding program required hours of individual practice and numerous three-hour rehearsals in Colchester. Students’ fingertips traced perilous and difficult paths down the lengths of their violin and cello fingerboards Tuesday as they pulled the most from their instruments. The horn, woodwind and percussion sessions sounded equally impressive, and the collective effect set the players and the audience on fire.

“From the first piece on, we nailed it,” said Essex High School student Mary Kulhovick. “After the first few minutes, we knew we had it, and we were pumped.”

Kulhovick said playing with Trey Anastasio was particularly thrilling. The former Phish frontman sat in with the VYO for two pieces. His entrance onto the stage elicited a roar from the numerous ticket holders in the Carnegie seats who had come to see the guitar icon play.

“To be sitting on stage with Trey was amazing,” Kulhovick said. “I can’t even describe it. It was a high.”