Local choir raising money to perform at Carnegie Hall

Valley students are back in school and it didn’t take long for some to hit the ground running, kicking off the new school year with fundraising.

The “Cathedral City Chamber Choir” is trying to raise enough money to take a prestigious trip to the Big Apple.

Every musician always dreams of the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall.

And for these high school singers, this year could be their chance.

“We’ve been invited to sing for the Festival of Gold because we’ve ranked gold every year for the past four years. But this is the first year we’re going,” senior Samantha Ruiz said.

The choir was out in front of Elmer’s restaurant in Palm Springs Saturday serenading customers and collecting donations.

Students said chasing their dreams is expensive.

“The trip costs $2,000 per person for us to go. So we’re fundraising so we don’t have to ask our parents to pay out of pocket,” Ruiz said.

In the past they have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, but they haven’t been able to raise enough money in order to make the trip. This year they said they hope it’s going to be different

They started fundraising in July and plan to continue up until their trip at the end of March.

But like years past, they’re already worried they might not raise enough.

“We could definitely do more. What we’re going to end up doing is a lot of singing gigs where we go around and sing for money,” Ruiz said.

Choir members said being able to sing on the famous stage will be an experience they won’t forget.

“To be going now and performing in Carnegie Hall is super exciting and it’s just going to be a memory that I’ll have forever,” Ruiz said.

“We’re a family like we say and we want to accomplish things before we all graduate,” sophomore Francisco Vizcaino said.

After three years of declining invitations, they hope this fourth one is the charm.

For more information on how you can help these singers achieve their dreams click here.