Alicia Keys Gives Surprise Performance At Edward R. Murrow High School

Edward R. Murrow students roared with delight Friday when Alicia Keys gave a surprise performance during the inauguration ceremony for the school’s new music technology program.

The Grammy-winning singer led the student choir in singing “If I Ain’t Got You.” She strode on stage for the song’s chorus, putting to rest swirling rumors among many students that she might make an appearance, and later gave a speech about what it takes to achieve success in her industry.

“Anything you want in your life, you have the power to take it and claim it,” she told the students. “I want you to always keep your mind open to all the things that you can learn. Because I wouldn’t even be able to stand on this stage without all the people that support me to get up here. There’s so many important, powerful things that you can be a part of and you can learn. So keep learning as much as you can.”

Students were also treated to performances by Brooklyn-based metal band Unlocking the Truth and New York DJ Cipha Sounds.

The ceremony was put together to celebrate the launch of Murrow’s new Music x Technology program. According to a press release from the high school, Keys partnered with Levi’s jeans to help fund the program, which gives students access to a recording studio and production equipment so that they can study sound engineering, audio-visual production and post-production, mastering, songwriting, and more.

Senior Lauren Cardinale said she was inspired to see Keys take the stage at her school.

“That is the stage we all perform on at one point of our high school career. Having someone like Alicia Keys stepping onto that stage, really hit home,” she said. “And that it was also our vocal students who sang with her, so when she sang her song and the curtain behind her opened and it was our friends singing with her, it was just incredible.”

Watch the YouTube video below to see the performance and Keys’ speech to the students.

Cardinale, who helps runs the school’s Humans of Murrow Facebook page and is interested in photography and video production, said she was very interested in the professional camera crews working at the event. It helped her see a future in the field she wants to pursue, she said.

“For me, seeing people taking pictures of her and video taping her, it really showed that there was a chance of doing this. It shows you that with hard work and dedication, it is possible,” she said.

Students worked behind-the-scenes alongside industry professionals to produce the show. Senior Yuval Kagan, part of the 14-member backstage crew, said he learned new lighting and effects techniques from a member of Keys’ team.

“By working with a professional lighting designer, we were able to have the ability to make these incredible looks on the stage by only using lighting & fog — it was incredible,” he wrote in an email.

Half the students enrolled in the new program, which offers its first classes in February, will be students with special learning needs, the school said.

Edward R. Murrow Principal Allen Barge thanked Keys and Levi’s in a press release for helping to open the new program.

“This new program is an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Barge. “Thanks to the support of Levi’s and Alicia Keys, our students will have access to endless resources to grow as musicians. The Music Technology program will increase engagement for all students – including those with special needs.”