Beautiful voices are just a part of what dozens of Miami-Dade young people needed to get into the Miami Choral Academy Honors Chamber Choir summer camp.
Brimming with confidence, good grades and serious work ethic, 50 elementary and middle school students from four Miami-Dade schools earned spots in the special summer camp, and the opportunity to get a type of music education that might otherwise be unavailable to them.
"They are top in talent, top in leadership," said teacher Shawn Crouch, who created the curriculum as part of the Miami Choral Academy.
On Friday morning, Crouch coached the group through several classical songs accompanied by a piano.
"Good music is good music, period," said Crouch. "We teach them that a great melody is a great melody. And it doesn't matter if Beyonce is singing it or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is singing it."
As it turns out, the music lessons come with life lessons.
"My mom says I have a better attitude and I've been doing better in school," said sixth-grader Demetria Cooper, who sings as second soprano.