2 Colusa High band students to play Carnegie Hall

Colusa High School band director Mike Phenicie enjoyed playing a little Halloween trickery on Lupita Ramos.

The next day he brought Ramos and Alexia Vargas the treat. The two juniors were informed they have been selected to play at Carnegie Hall in New York — part of a competitive nomination process involving thousands of young musicians in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Two others — senior Efren Fuentes and freshman Thomas Critchfield — are alternates for the Honors Performance on Feb. 12.

"Tuesday, I was pretty spaced out and saying, 'Oh my God, I'm going to New York.' And the other days since, it's been, 'Oh my God, I'm going to New York,' but I've been able to focus more," said Ramos, who had received text messages Monday from her teacher asking if she wanted to know about the concert selections.

After more than three months of waiting, of course she did. The response from Phenicie was, "I don't know, yet."

More trick than treat to be sure, and Ramos said she tossed her cellphone in frustration.

But Tuesday it was all smiles, and a few tears, when the news arrived from New York.

"I don't even know how to explain it. It was shock," said Vargas after learning she and her trumpet are on the way to Carnegie Hall. Ramos plays the oboe.

They will be part of either an orchestra or a band — likely about 100 musicians each — that will play at one of the most famous music centers in the world.