SW New Mexico News

Most of the 25 choir students from Zia Middle School had never heard of Foreigner, but they are set to share the stage with the iconic band at the Pan American Center on Wednesday night. The opportunity arose after the Zia Thunderbird choir won a local radio contest hosted by KVLC-FM, 101 Gold. As a result, they will perform "I Wanna Know What Love Is" alongside Foreigner.

Choir director Christopher Yee expressed enthusiasm for this event, noting that the group has been preparing for nine weeks and recorded their version of the song to share on the radio station's Facebook page. "The students are very excited," Yee stated in an interview before the concert. "And I am too, although I will be watching from the side of the stage, cheering them on."

Foreigner has made it a tradition to invite school choirs to join them during performances of their famous ballad from 1984. Their tour has included school choirs from states such as Michigan, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Eighth grader Jamie shared his excitement about performing on stage: “It’s a good song,” he said. Seventh grader Mariah highlighted that participating in this event has taught them valuable lessons beyond singing. "We’re learning about stage presence," she mentioned. "We’re practicing our breathing and focus. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Despite not being familiar with Foreigner initially, Mariah shared her excitement with her family: “My grandma is so excited!”

The concert featuring Foreigner and Loverboy is scheduled for October 9 at 7 p.m.