NEW YORK CITY — Returning this Tuesday in time to celebrate the 4th at home, Scotts Valley resident, Tara Tempesta, the granddaughter of Janette Jackson and Anthony Tempesta of New Vineyard, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a finalist in the Middle School Honors Performance Series Orchestra.

Tara has thousands of hours of practice over 10 years of instruction and performances – first playing with the Cabrillo Youth Orchestra, then with the San Jose Youth Symphony. She was recently accepted into the SJYS Orchestra Philharmonic this 2015-2016 season. Tara competed with other cellists from an international field of applicants through Worldstrides Heritage Performance Programs, who supports the series including need based scholarships.

Leading to the concert, included daily rehearsals with by their conductor, Charles Peltz who shaped this performance. He is is music director of the Glens Falls Symphony, and has conducted symphony orchestras including the Syracuse Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Merrick Symphony on Long Island, Pacific Symphony in Los Angeles, the New Jersey Ballet, including other International venues.

Tara has had many performances throughout Santa Cruz area and Bay region, including the 60th Anniversary of the SJYS at the Flint Center in San Jose. Tara adds Carnegie Hall as one of the most prestigious venues in the world for classic and popular music because of it’s tradition in excellence and amazing acoustics, this performance was played upon the famed Ronald O. Perelman Stage in the Isaac Stern Auditorium.

Also performing on stage were the Honors Chior Finalists lead by Conductor Greg Gilpin, and Honors Band Finalists lead by Conductor Jeffery Grogan.

Tara is currently a student at the Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz and performs in their music programs regularly, actively involved in volunteer activities, competes in arts and sciences, and was nominated and accepted as a participant in the National Youth Leadership Forum|STEM program. Parents Julie and Daryl Tempesta and brother Max accompanied.