Youth choir fundraises to represent UK in World Choir Games
Farnham Youth Choir are hoping to raise £50,000 to attend the games - in New Zealand
A youth choir from Surrey is fundraising for the "once in a lifetime" opportunity to represent the UK at the World Choir Games.
Farnham Youth Choir is hoping to raise £50,000 target to the international competition in Auckland this Summer.
This follows their triumph back in April at the Interkultur International Choir Competition in Hull, making them eligible to represent the UK.
17-year-old Freya Hanmer from the choir said:
"It's the best tour you could ever imagine going on, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"Going to the competition and meeting lots of choirs and meeting friends from all over the world is the best thing possible.
"Even if you don't speak the same language, you can connect through music.
"The choir changed my life - when I joined when I was eight, I was really shy.
"I really wouldn't do what I do now and it's completely helped me to come out of my shell."
The choir's Chair of Trustees Melanie Hancox said:
"The choir's benefits are huge to the community.
"We do an awful lot of stuff, for example in primary schools over the last few years, there have been fewer and fewer music specialists so we are working with local schools to run workshops.
"We have an event coming up in the Summer called the FYP Singing Spree.
"This involves 300 year 2 primary school children singing in a workshops with all of our conductors.
"This is just one of example of a really great thing we do to enthuse lots of youngsters with the love of singing in Farnham.
Farnham Youth Choir have been running events to raise money for their trip, including carolling, with more planned this year.
You can donate to the choir's fundraiser by clicking here.