The dreams of Beverly Hills Intermediate School orchestra members and their director, Ms. Leigh Ledford, will come true because of a $40,000 donation by Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles’ father, and the Survivor Foundation for a trip to the Chicago Midwest Clinic December 19-23, 2006.

Beverly Hills’ orchestra is the only intermediate school group in the nation to be invited to perform at the international event.

Even though Ms. Ledford will not be able to direct the orchestra due to her battle with cancer, her dream is still there for her students to have the opportunity to perform and experience the prestigious event.

The Beverly Hills’ Orchestra received the formal invitation in April to attend the Midwest Clinic. The funds to cover the trip were proving difficult to raise when the idea of approaching Oprah was brought up by Kari Mitchell, assistant choir director at Beverly Hills. A video was made by Teen Leadership Teacher Sheri Sellers, where she explained her motivation with the simple comment that Ms. Ledford had had this dream for 20 years and now the opportunity was here for the students.

However, to get Oprah’s attention to view the video required an “in” which students and staff members hoped would come in the form of Mathew Knowles through Mr. Knowles’ administrative assistant Lin Almonzo, who is the mother of orchestra student, Demmi Garcia.

Upon seeing the video and hearing the persuasive plea given by Demmi, Kr. Knowles generously donated the necessary funds himself through The Survivor Foundation which was originally established by Beyoncé, Solange, Tina Knowles and Mathew Knowles, and Kelly Rowland to “assist families and individuals displaced by disasters, those who are homeless, and those seeking to rebuild their lives in the Houston metropolitan area.”

“I see dreams and hopes in your eyes. I see doctors, teachers, musicians, and lawyers. I know the challenges you face, but don’t ever give up on your dreams,” Mr. Knowles told students when he arrived on campus to present the check. He went on to add, “You have to believe you are going to make it. You must have passion for what you do. You are survivors and so is Ms. Ledford.”