Your Vote Could Send an El Paso Choir to the Foreigner Stage

El Paso choirs showed up for our Foreigner Choir contest!! We received an incredible response from schools across the Borderland for the chance to sing live on stage with Foreigner. After watching all of the amazing submissions, we’ve narrowed it down to our top entries, and now it’s time for YOU to help us choose!

The finalists are competing for an unforgettable opportunity to perform “I Want to Know What Love Is” live on stage with Foreigner, and they will also get a $500 donation for the winning school’s choir program to help support its students and music program.

Now it’s your turn, El Paso! Voting is open now and will close at 12 p.m. Sunday, October 4. The winning choir will be announced Monday, October 5.

Watch the finalist performances below and read why each choir believes they should be the winning choir then vote for your favorite choir.

VOTE HERE

Bel Air High School:

The students of the Bel Air High School Choir show remarkable musical ability and a profound love for the arts. Singing alongside a renowned band like Foreigner would serve as a testament and recognition of their talent and devotion to music. In just three days before the fall break, my students diligently learned “I Want to Know What Love Is,” demonstrating their musical talent, resilience, and dedication. Bel Air High School Choir, although located in an economically disadvantaged community and faced with limited resources, the choir demonstrates passion, a tenacious attitude, and a gift. A $500 donation could significantly enhance our Choir program. With this contribution, we would be able to purchase music supplies, equipment maintenance, uniforms, and transportation for future events. Selecting us to sing with Foreigner would not only be an inspiring underdog story, but also a transformative opportunity for our choir members. Beyond the immediate benefits to the choir, the donation and the opportunity to perform with Foreigner would uplift the entire community. It would serve as a source of pride and inspiration, showing that with hard work and determination, even those from underprivileged backgrounds can achieve remarkable success. In selecting the Bel Air High School Choir to sing with Foreigner and providing a $500 donation, not only would it be an investment in young talent, but also a beacon of hope for a community striving to overcome adversity. Thank you for considering our choir for this incredible opportunity and for supporting music education for all.

SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School

This would be an incredible experience for our students, getting to perform on stage with a legendary band! A few years ago, my mom’s choir, Riverside High School, won this contest! We would be thrilled to be a second-generation choir to have this opportunity. Our students are filled with so much passion for music. Last year, I lost my father, and these students stepped up in so many ways. My dad was a true inspiration for music, an icon for jazz in and around El Paso, constantly encouraging young musicians to chase their dreams. Each of these students sang a beautiful tribute of “Over the Rainbow” to honor him at our Fall Concert last year. They always show so much enthusiasm and love for singing. Singing with Foreigner would continue their passion and dreams for music and give them the confidence to go after these dreams. A $500 donation would greatly benefit our choir, allowing us to have more resources to buy new risers for our growing program, as well as a new piano for our classroom. We would like to thank you for extending this opportunity to our community! Music is so powerful in many ways, and we are excited to be considered.

Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School

Our middle school choir deserves to be selected because our students bring enthusiasm, dedication, and courage to everything they do. For many of them, choir is more than just a class. It is a place where they discover their voices, build confidence, develop friendships, and learn what can be accomplished when everyone works together toward a common goal. Our students work hard each day to grow as musicians and performers. An opportunity like this would give them an unforgettable experience beyond the classroom and allow them to see how the skills they are learning can connect to the professional music world. It would also be an exciting way to celebrate their commitment to our choir program and recognize the importance of music education in our school community. Winning the $500 donation would make a meaningful difference for our program. The funds would help us purchase music, provide classroom and performance materials, and support opportunities that might otherwise be financially out of reach for some of our students. Most importantly, being selected would show our young singers that their hard work matters and that their voices deserve to be heard. We would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent our school and our El Paso community through music.

Da Vinci School of Science and The Arts

My name is James David Hamilton. I am the bass player for Fungi Mungle and the Choir and Orchestra Director at Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts. My choir should be selected because of our students’ enthusiasm, dedication, and determination. Many of our students wake up very early and travel from Mexico each day to receive a better education. Our students from the United States also work extremely hard and are proud to be part of our school community. Many of these students come from families with limited financial resources. Performing with Foreigner could be a once in a lifetime experience one they might never otherwise have. It would give them the opportunity to share their talents, build confidence, and create a memory they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. As a small charter school, we do not receive the same level of funding or resources available to many larger school districts. The $500 award would help us purchase new instruments and equipment or help pay for an educational field trip that our students might not otherwise be able to experience. Our students are hardworking, talented, and deserving of this incredible opportunity. Thank you for considering the Da Vinci choir.

Captain Gabriel Navarrete Middle School

Navarrete Middle School is a Title I School in EPISD where many of our students come from low-income households. Over the past several years Navarrete Choir has grown and continues to provide students with opportunities to develop their musical talents, confidence, and sense of belonging. The students deserve an experience to show their talents to El Paso but also to show Foreigner their greatness, bravery, and talent. Our choir students will be part of a meaningful experience that they will carry with them years after leaving Navarrete. A $500 donation will provide T-shirts for our students. These T-shirts would represent more than school spirit. They would symbolize unity, pride, and belonging in the Navarrete Choir Program. Many of our families face financial barriers, opportunities like this are not always accessible to every student without community support. Your support would be possible to allow our students the opportunity to feel they are part of something meaningful. Thank you for considering supporting the Navarrete Middle School Choir Program and helping our students experience a once in a lifetime event they will remember for years to come.

Montwood High School

Our choir program is more than just a group of students who sing together. It is a place where people with different personalities, backgrounds, and experiences come together to create something meaningful. Every rehearsal teaches us more than just notes and rhythms; it teaches us teamwork, confidence, discipline, and the importance of supporting one another. We believe our choir should win because of the dedication we put into our program. Whether we are preparing for a concert, competition, school event, or any other performance, we work hard to represent our school with pride. Choir has given many of us a place where we can express ourselves, make lasting friendships, and feel like we belong. Receiving this opportunity would not just be about getting $500; it would be an investment in our students and our program. The money would help provide essential resources such as sheet music and contest fees, especially for students who may not be able to afford entry fees on their own. This support would help ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent a student from participating and experiencing the opportunities that choir has to offer.

Magoffin Middle School

This group has had 3 choir teachers on 2 years, with me being the newest one. I started in December so we are still going through growing pains with each other. Even though I've only worked with this group since august, they already have a passion and a drive to show off what magoffin has to offer, even with me split between 2 schools. We would like to show what the northeast can really do and let out our lobo howl!

Irvin High School

Small but mighty-this choir of 8 can sing with the very best! I’ve been working with these singers since December, and their determination is undeniable. Last year brought changes and kept us mostly focused on UIL, but now we’re ready to jump back into the community full force. The Rockets are rebuilding, growing, and soaring high—and we can't wait to show El Paso what we can do!

Montwood Middle School

Montwood Middle Choir is one of the best in the city! My students work so hard and always sing from the heart. Last year we lost one of our own singers very unexpectedly and want to dedicate this opportunity to her. The $500 donation would help us with buying new mics for our concerts and a plaque of dedication to the student that we lost. MMS choir knows what love is!