Yes, I’ve seen many kids listing “played at Carnegie Hall” on their EC resumes, and I know what that’s about because I’ve gone through that with my violinist son. My son did play at “Carnegie Hall” with his youth symphony in collaboration with a group of Taiko drummers from Japan. That was through an invitation, not by rental.
My son also had a chance to play “solo” (like Amy Chua’s daughter) at “Carnegie Hall” except we turned it down and never showed up in NYC. My then young teen son unknowingly entered this online “international” competition for fun one day and won. Then, shortly thereafter, we received an “invitation” to perform solo at “Carnegie Hall” but we’d have to pay to perform, including a photo shoot. My suspicious instinct kicked in. Upon further researching into this organization that “sponsored” a series of “international” competitions, I learned that the organization rents the Weill Recital Hall space at Carnegie Hall and “process” about 300 “winners” in all different age group and musical categories in one day. That’s a lot of money to be made just in one day, so it’s no wonder the organization holds such winners’ recitals several times throughout the year. They depend their livelihood on over-zealous parents who are willing to pay so their children can list “played at Carnegie Hall” to look impressive in the eyes of gullible (hopefully) college AdComs. Suckers are born every minute.
A close friend of my son, a fine musician, who later went on to win the MTNA National competition (that’s legit), also fell for this online “international” competition. His mom almost paid to go on a trip to NYC, but she asked me about it just before. I saved her over $1K right there. Her son, already with an impressive resume, decided not to list this “honor” in his resume in fear of “tainting” his reputation.
I will not divulge the identity of the organization that still holds to this day such online competitions. It’s a legit but for easy profit making scheme using the power of the name “Carnegie Hall.” Just about every one of my son’s peers, regardless of their true playing skills, “won” this international competition just by entering. By now, any savvy college AdComs should be aware of these schemers by the sheer number of such “international winners” that they come across their desks (I hope).