Choir $5K away from Carnegie Hall

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Day in and day out the Fulmore Middle School choir pushes for perfection. The advanced girls choir , comprised of seventh and eighth graders, is nearly 30 members strong.

Since September, the group has been preparing for the biggest performance of their young lives.

"I was dreaming that the red drapes opened and were looking into this huge crowd," said eighth grader Diana Sotlo. "We sounded so beautiful."

Famous composer and conductor Francisco Núñez saw the Fulmore choir perform in Dallas and invited them to sing on the most prestigious stage of all on January 20 -- Carnegie Hall.

The girls have raised just over $40,000 in the last two months so that every single person can go on the four day trip to New York City -- no matter their family's financial situation. The majority of students who attend the middle school, which sits in the heart of South Congress, are considered economically disadvantaged.

"We are a family and being a part of the family means we all go together," said Choir Director Yvette Carroll.

The girls had dedicated their weekends and free time to numerous fundraisers. They've held bake sales, a talent show, worked the concession stand during the recent Formula One race and even sung Christmas carols in an HEB parking lot.

"We actually made posters and brought little plastic tip jars with us and walked up and down Congress singing song after song over and over again," said eighth grader Anjali Meunier.

The group is just $5,000 shy of meeting their goal and are determined to fight for it until the end.

"I don't want to see any person in this choir be left out," said Meunier,

It is a lesson in so much more than music.

"It's about living up to your commitments and being a part of a community and following through with what you say you're going to do," said Carroll.

Click here to donate and learn more about the Fulmore Middle School advanced girls choir.