Elementary students from Tucker and across DeKalb County will be traveling to New York City this weekend to perform at Carnegie Hall.
The Dynamix Orff Ensemble is one of four groups performing at the National Youth Chorus and National Masterwork Chorus concert at Carnegie Hall on June 22. The award-winning xylophone ensemble consists of 14 elementary students from schools across DeKalb and is led by Chelsea Cook, the music director at Dunaire Elementary School. The young xylophonists will be accompanied by six dancers from Tucker’s Expressions in Motion Dance school, led by Whitney Teyf.
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Cook was approached by National Concerts in July 2025 to perform at the concert. While performing ensembles are typically larger groups of more than 40 kids who are older than elementary aged, the organization made an exception for Dynamix.
Since July, Cook and Teyf have been working tirelessly to compose, choreograph, and rehearse with their students, who come from schools across DeKalb like Globe Academy, DeKalb Arts Academy, and Dunaire.
“We were finally able to bring something together that will absolutely blow you away once you see it. It works so beautifully,” Cook told Rough Draft. “[Teyf and I] are like yin and yang. What she’s done with the dances, taking what was in my heart and bringing it to life on the stage, has just been completely remarkable to see.”
The group’s performance will span genre, including some classical Americana with “Rodeo: IV. Hoedown” by Aaron Copeland, music from Bill Whelan’s Irish dance show “Riverdance,” African folk, a hip-hop rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and a tribute to the Jackson Five.
Both Cook and Teyf said that while their students are excited for the opportunity, it hasn’t truly sunk in yet.
“Regardless of how excited they are, I still don’t think they fully comprehend the greatness and how incredible this opportunity is for them until they set foot on that stage and look out into that audience,” Teyf said.
The groups will travel to New York City on Friday, June 18, before the performance on Monday. The show will also include performances by the National Youth Chorus, the National Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra, and the McCallum High School Band. More information and tickets can be found at the Carnegie Hall website.
