The Canyon High School Choir is getting ready for their 2014 tour to Seattle and Vancouver. Choir Director Mary Purdy asks the community’s help to raise money for students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go because of personal hardships.

Every year, the Canyon High School Choir takes a tour to places like Chicago, New York City or Sacramento.

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It’s often the highlight of the year for students, said Choir Director Mary Purdy.

This year, about 50 students will travel to Seattle, Wash. and Vancouver, British Columbia, where they will perform, visit important landmarks and participate in workshops with Geoffrey Boers at the University of Washington in Seattle and Morna Edmundson, the director of Elektra Women’s Choir.

The trip costs about $1,200 person, and “we have been fundraising like crazy,” Purdy said.

The deadline to raise money has already passed, but Purdy is asking the community’s help for four students who have come up short.

Every year, there are students who decide, because of time or finances, not to go on the choir tour.

Purdy wants to help four students who are special cases, she said.

They have taken the time to fundraise, and their parents want them to participate in the tour, but personal or financial situations have made it cost prohibitive.

“The parents really want them to go on tour and want to help them, but there’s really no way they can help them,” Purdy said.

Two of the students, Caitie Acree and Alexis Aktodiete, both 18, are seniors at Canyon High.

Acree wasn’t initially planning to go on her senior choir tour, because her father and grandmother are both battling serious illnesses.

She did attend tour during her freshman year and described it as a great opportunity to bond with the rest of the choir.

“It was the most amazing experience,” she said.

She also appreciated the opportunity to study under experts in the music industry, like Boers and Edmundson whom the choir will visit this year.

Her dream is to study soundboard engineering at USC.

“For me, because I want to study music, it means a lot to be able to work with these kinds of people,” she said.

Acree said that her fellow choir members have been very supportive while her father and grandmother have been sick.

“When I’m in choir, I kind of forget what’s going on at home. Everything kind of goes away,” she said. “…They always make sure I’m okay.”  

Acree has already raised about $500 towards the trip, and needs another $700 to be able to attend.

The other three students are also between $600 and $1,000 short, Purdy said.

Those interested in donating can make checks out to “Canyon High School ASB,” with “Canyon High School Choir Tour” in the memo line.

Residents can also fill out this printable form with their check to become an official patron of the Canyon High Choir.

All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about the Canyon High Choir and pictures from previous tours and concerts, click here.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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