By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – When the Philadelphia Singers perform at the Kimmel Center, this week, five local high school students will be part of the chorale. They’ve been chosen for the group’s mentoring program, which pairs a young singer with a professional.

If Elisabeth Siegel was nervous or intimidated when she sat with 150 seasoned performers and rehearsed Carmina Burana for the first time, she didn’t show it. The Cherry Hill East junior sat next to her mentor, Amy Armstrong, who fairly radiated support.

“It can be challenging. It’s exciting, especially if you’re going to be pursuing a career in it like she is. I just love to just share the joy for lack of a better word. And it’s a great program, one that I didn’t have when I was in high school that I would have loved to have had.”

The mentees had to audition to be chosen for the program and Siegel says being chosen is unlike any experience she’s had before.

“Singing at the Kimmel Center which is amazing and Carmina Burana, which is such a cool piece, really different.”

The mentees will sing in the three Carmina Burana performances, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.