Choir has high hopes for China trip

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A Fort Wayne youth choir continues to work toward raising money for its trip to China in July for the 2010 World Choir Games.

Voices of Unity Director, Marshal White said fundraising efforts and training for the trip are well underway.

The choir is one of only five in the country invited to the 2010 games and the only from Indiana to ever participate. The 10-year-old event joins more than 400 choirs from 90 countries to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Unity Performing Arts Foundation (UPAF) said it hopes to send 70 choir singers and musicians along with 20-30 chaperones to China. The budget for the trip, opportunities before and after totals $720,000.

The foundation said it hopes to turn to corporate contributors locally and nationally and other public donations.

“This is a positive opportunity for this community to say ‘let’s embrace something positive for young people.’ I think that this is the time for Fort Wayne to step up and show [support],” White said.

The United States will host its first World Choir Games in Cincinnati in 2012.

To learn how to donate to the choir’s fundraising, click here.