Companies help FW choir China trip

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Local corporations voiced a strong show of support for a Fort Wayne youth choir hoping to make an international statement for Fort Wayne.

The Voices of Unity Choir has been invited to represent the U.S. by singing at the World Choir Games in China this summer. The games -to be held July 15-26 in Shaoxing, China- are known as the Olympics of choir competitions and Voices of Unity is one of only a handful of choirs from the U.S. invited.

There was a fundraiser Wednesday night for the choir's effort to go to China, which it has dubbed "Dreams of Gold."

Local corporations joined together at Sweetwater Sound to show their support for the choir.

Voices of Unity leaders say they're well on their way to reaching their $400,000 goal. The choir is also working to raise more money for operating support and pre-trip preparations.

Voices of Unity is a choir with 80 young people from Allen County. It performs a soulful choral style and also allows choir members to receive mentoring or academic tutoring. The choir is part of the nonprofit Unity Performing Arts Foundation, which is an official company-in-residence at IPFW.