William Tennent Chorus to Perform in London During 2012 Olympics

The choral program has been selected to perform at various venues around London during the 2012 Olympic Games. The Greater London Authority, in cooperation with the Olympic Organizing Committee, is putting together a package of cultural events to take place throughout the city's 33 boroughs during the games.

Chorus director Tyrone Dinkins submitted a detailed application and performance tape at the end of the 2010-2011 school year and just recently received word that his choir will be among only a handful of invited guests from the area.

"I know that Mansfield University and a high school in Maryland are also going," said Dinkins.

The audition, recorded in Dinkins' classroom during the last week of the school year, was comprised of folk songs from around the world, including "I Praise the Tender Flower" and "Nocturne" by Mendelssohn. It's a program that he will mimic when the group performs during the first week of August 2012.

The current plan is for the choir to travel arrive in Dublin Aug. 2, spend the next day sightseeing and performing, then travel to London Aug. 4, where they will spend the next few days touring and singing until they return home Aug. 9.

Right now, it's a matter of finding the money to pay for the trip. With the travel and accommodations, it will cost about $3,795 per student, before departure taxes. Dinkins has also offered to organize a side tour for any parents that wish to go.

"We have a meeting Tuesday night to start talking about fundraising plans," said Dinkins. "There's talk of a 5K run, a chance for us to sing the national anthem at a Phillies game, and we would sell tickets for the game. We also want to do candy sales, Applebee's. It's going to be big fundraising events and small events. Anything will help."

The 2012 Olympics will begin July 27 and run until August 12.