When the Natrona County High School jazz orchestra was invited to submit an audition tape for directors at Carnegie Hall, director Pat Kukes didn't expect to hear the band was chosen to perform at the historic music hall.

On April 5, 2009, the NCHS jazz orchestra will travel from Casper to New York to play in what many musicians consider the best concert hall in the world.

"We were kind of in shock that we'd get the opportunity," Kukes said. "It certainly wakes you up."

Directors from Carnegie Hall invite certain bands every year to submit audition tapes. Programs invited to audition are usually chosen by word of mouth. If a band's tape is selected, it has the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall.

"It's by invitation only," Kukes said. "They just don't throw it out to everybody."

NCHS' jazz orchestra has students in grades 9 through 12, and uses a combination of orchestra and big band music to create its unique sound. Director Shawn Weis said the group has blazed a trail in fusing the two disciplines.

"There isn't any music out there for [this] right now," Weis said. "So we're kind of doing our own music."

Weiss said roughly 50 students will travel to New York, and travel will cost about $1,600 per student. The band plans to do a lot of fundraising through this year, and Weiss said NCHS may also help foot the bill.

For jazz orchestra member A.J. Wulf, the invitation to play at Carnegie came as a slight shock.

"We were invited to play at a music festival in Texas last year," the 17-year-old piano player said. "But this is unheard of."

Wulf said he personally feels a little intimidated getting ready to perform at Carnegie Hall, but that the band will do Natrona County proud.

"It's a tremendous honor," Wulf said. "We'll do our best to represent."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or jasa.santos@trib.com.