They love New York, and plan to perform there

After traveling to Italy last year, the Oberlin High School orchestra this year decided to stay on this side of the Atlantic and travel to New York.

"This is a much smaller trip," orchestra director Harriet Thomas said. "But last year's trip was worth all the effort."

She said the trip to New York in May will also be worth all the effort going into it. The students will perform at Alice Tully Hall at the Kennedy Center, attend a Broadway show, and visit the United Nations and the Julliard School of Music.

Thomas said they would miss two days of school. The orchestra will leave on the night of Wednesday, May 26, and return on the morning of Sunday, May 30.

"That's the Sunday before Memorial Day," she said. "So the students will have Monday off to recuperate before they have to be back at school on Tuesday."

The trip will cost $599 per student -- with discounts for families with multiple students -- plus food for meals. Thomas said that is much less than the cost to go to Italy, but many students still need to raise money.

They started in October, working at the Doggie Doo, held bake sales at swim meets at the Lorain County MetroParks SplashZone, held a Macy's coupon sale, and ran a snack shack after school four nights a week throughout the school year. They have also received donations from residents.

"We've sold Avon, candy bars, poinsettias, right now we're doing a flower sale," she said. "We're trying to do as many things as we can to raise money for these kids. We still have a ways to go. We're probably between $2,000 to $3,000 from our goal."

About 40 students are planning to go to New York. Last year, 42 students went to Italy.

Thomas said the deadline for fundraising is April 15.

"We're hoping to get some sponsors," she said. "Normally we do get some. We ask people if they'd be interested in sponsoring a student partially or even a full sponsorship. We're hoping to get some of those."