HARLINGEN — For two months, Christian Briones has been honing his talent for his encore performance on one of world’s great stages.
For the second year in a row, the 14-year-old eighth-grader at Gutierrez Middle School will sing at Carnegie Hall.
For much of his life, his mother Pamela Briones has coached him to reach numerous achievements on his way to the spotlight at the famed theater.
For Christian, the long journey to Carnegie Hall began years ago.
“Ever since I was little I’ve been singing,” he said.
Since fifth grade, he’s been singing on his school choir.
“Singing is pretty much my gift,” he said. “It expresses my emotions.”
At Gutierrez, his mother is also his choir director.
“As mother and teacher, I feel it’s more challenging for him to prove he’s good,” Pamela Briones said. “When he accomplishes something, people believe it’s because his mom is his teacher.”
Last June, Christian performed his debut at Carnegie Hall.
“It was a great experience,” said Christian, who largely performs popular 1980s love songs. “It boosted my confidence. I’m a stronger singer.”
Soon he was planning his return.
Last December, he performed an online audition for the Honors Performance Series.
Then in March, the company announced he was among 200 children selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in June.
“It’s exciting,” Christian said. “It’s amazing.”
Meanwhile, Pamela Briones has been busy raising $3,000 to cover the trip’s expenses.
“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “It’s a lot of fundraising. I just want to give him the opportunity.”
