By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

Lindsey Daniels, a Carl Junction seventh-grader, thought it was a prank when she heard her junior high choir had been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

“I thought they were playing a joke on us,” Daniels said.

Her choir teacher, Doug Campbell, was also skeptical of the invitation he received, but verified that his group was indeed welcome to perform in April 2009 at the most famous musical venue in the United States, along with several other junior high choirs from other states.

“I think we’re off to a good start this year,” Campbell said, laughing at his use of understatement.

The invitation was based on the excellence of Carl Junction’s program, specifically the students Campbell sent to the state Junior Honor Choir competition over the past two years.

Last year, Campbell had six students qualify to go to the Junior Honor Choir, and this year, he sent 11. Two received plus one ratings, the highest rating given.

“I guess the judges were just extremely impressed,” Campbell said.

J.W. Keckley, an eighth-grade student in the choir, said he is ecstatic about the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall.

“I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s like the biggest venue in the country,’” Keckley said.

Campbell said Carl Junction schools have a long history of musical excellence, and he’s just tried to bring his personal experiences to the choir since he was hired three years ago. He focuses on details that sometimes get forgotten, like approach to the stage and appearance. His students think he might have more to do with the honor than he will admit.

“He is very picky,” Daniels said of Campbell’s style as choir director.

The students will perform a piece called “Testament of Freedom” by Randall Thompson and will be accompanied by the New England Symphonic Orchestra. The event celebrates the 25th year that students have been performing at Carnegie Hall.

The Carl Junction Junior High choir has 140 members, and about 65 of those students plan to make the trip to Carnegie Hall. The trip will cost about $1,700 per student, so the group is doing some fund-raising. The choir will sing at the annual Carl Junction bluegrass festival Sept. 27 and will afterward sell tickets for children’s games, have a cow-bingo drawing, and sell caramel apples and bottled water.