What do Oak Harbor Middle School choir students have in common with Mr. Frank Sinatra? They want to be a part of it: New York, New York. And this spring, they will be.

Back in October, middle school choir director Joni Keller received a letter from Dr. Jonathan Griffith, the artistic director and principal conductor of the Distinguished Concerts International New York, inviting her and her students to participate in a performance at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Keller met one of the Distinguished Concerts directors, Greg Gilpin, at Carnegie Hall two years ago, and he gave her group a personal recommendation.

The concert will take place on April 10. Keller said her students will form part of the Distinguished Concerts Singers International and will be singing with 100 to 150 other students from all over the country.

According to Keller, the concert was designed to promote middle school music in an effort to keep up students’ interest in the arts.

Though Keller has 54 students in her seventh and eighth grade choir this year, she was only allowed to bring a handful on the trip. After holding auditions in her class, she chose a select seven for New York.

“They had the best voices out of the group,” Keller said. “I did a whole spreadsheet on them. I would have loved to have taken all 54 students, but that would’ve been impossible.”

Keller and the kids plan on flying out on April 6 so they’ll be able to attend pre-show rehearsals. In their free time, Keller said she hopes to hit all the big tourist spots with the students.

“I’m just excited to go to a real big city because I’ve never been,” seventh grader Jessica Aguilar said, “but I probably won’t like the prices.”

Eighth grader Cassidy Rydell said she’s excited to experience New York’s atmosphere and explore a possible career path.

“I want to see the environment because I want to maybe sing on Broadway,” she said.

Keller hopes to take the kids to a Broadway show or two while they’re in town.

The trip will cost between $1,500 and 2,000 per student, but Keller said the families have agreed to take on the expense if necessary. However, the students are planning a number of fundraisers, including a raffle and silent auction, to help mitigate the price.

Community donations are also encouraged. People can send donations to the school at 150 Sixth Ave. in Oak Harbor. Checks should be made out to Oak Harbor Middle School and should include the memo “ASB choir trip.”