Children's choirs from all over Arizona will converge at Buena High School at 4 p.m. on April 14 for the Fifth Annual Southeastern Arizona Children's Choir Festival. A free concert will be given in the Buena Performing Arts Center featuring the Phoenix Boy's Choir, the Phoenix Children's Chorus, the Tucson Girls Chorus, the Cochise Children's Choir and members of local choirs including students from Valley View Elementary Chorus, Our Lady of the Mountains, St. Andrew's Catholic Church and Elgin school. The Cochise Children's Choir hosts this annual event.

This year's festival is themed "I'll Make the Difference" and will be conducted by guest clinician, Herbert Washington, artistic assistant of the Phoenix Boy's Choir and director of the Phoenix Boy's Choir Town Choir. Washington is a native of Phoenix and an alumnus of the Phoenix Boys Choir; He graduated in 2004 with a bachelor's in music and fine arts from St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

While there, he sang in the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong, directed "Voices of Praise," the St. Olaf Gospel Choir, and led the choir to record its first CD. Washington is in his third year working with the Phoenix Boys Choir. He also performs with the men of the Phoenix Boys Choir. Washington plans to pursue a masters degree in choral conducting and music education. His Town Choir will be a featured choir at the festival. The Cadet Choir from the Phoenix Children's Chorus will be a featured choir at the festival concert, and will be under the direction of associate conductor, Mrs. Jaque Marum. Also featured at the festival will be the Tucson Girl's Chorus directed by Marcela Molina, and choirs from the Cochise Children's Choir including the Intermediate boys and girls choirs directed by Dave and Jean Perry, and the Touring Ensemble directed by Jill Brown.

In preparation for the concert, more than 175 students, grades 4-10, from Cochise, Santa Cruz, Maricopa and Pima counties will spend the entire day in festival choir rehearsals with Washington. The students also will have the opportunity to attend special arts and music workshops provided to them which include World Drumming instructed by Carl Coss, music teacher at Johnston School; Dance Movement, instructed by Morgan Nutt of Limelight productions; and music activities instructed by Rebecca Robinson, music teacher at Village Meadows Elementary School.

The massed choirs will perform at 4 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken.

The Cochise Children's Choir is accepting sponsorships to help make this event possible. For those interested in helping, or for information about the festival, call 458-3432, or e-mail cccazsings@msn.com.