Anchorage Choir's Carnegie Hall Triumph, Now Budget Cuts Loom

0:00Middle school kids from Golden View in Anchorage just checked off a huge bucket list item performing at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 19th. These six-through-eight graders, 67 Strong, rock three pieces on their own in front of over 2,000 people then joined a massive. Two unnempers 60-person choir from all over the country for six more songs. Getting there took serious grind, choir director Leslie Olson sent in recordings back in September and at 7.30am one day she got the yes call that lit her up. The students fundraised every penny of the roughly $3,300 per kid for the trip and they put in extra hours rehearsing, before and after school with practice tracks to nail it. The young performers were straight up amazed, calling it a blessed once in a lifetime vibe, especially since some had no clue about Carnegie Hall. Until they researched it, Olson credits their strong prep to solid elementary music programs in the Anchorage school district which built their skills from the ground up.

1:03But now that high notes hitting a sour turn, the district staring down a $90 million budget hole, slashing fine arts across the board, including laying off 12 teachers just this. Month, Olson's heart broken, fearing incoming kids will miss out on the music foundation that made this triumph possible. While these students savor their spotlight, the district still mum on exactly how Golden View's choir program gets hit next, leaving everyone watching close for what's coming. That's your update from Anchorage News today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.