BUHL - The inside of the choir room at Buhl High School is part rehearsal hall, part trophy case.

Towering awards and shining plaques line shelves and wall space, evidence of hard work culminating into a legacy of achievements.

Some of the newer awards include second-place honors from the 2008 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival and gold rating accolades from the choirs' trip to San Francisco this spring.

This year the Jazz Choir has its sights set on returning to Lionel Hampton, the largest jazz festival in the world, in February on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. The Select Choir will head to the celebrated Music in the Parks festival in Layton, Utah, in May.

Thirty-nine students, between both choirs, will attend the out-of-state festivals. They just need to raise money first.

To do so, the choirs have again partnered with the BHS junior class for a fundraiser dinner and auction on Monday.

"Going to Lionel Hampton looks good on college applications and going inspires us to perform even better," said Jessica Garcia, 18. "The other musicians we get to listen to are inspiring. We learn a lot from attending these festivals and have a great time."

The senior relished attending the festival two years ago and is looking forward to returning.

"We are going to win," Garcia said. "We got second last time and this year we're going for first place."

They've got what it takes, said Director Jennifer Schoth, but couldn't attend without community support. Schoth said donations have come in from business and private contributions ranging from live rabbits and fish to loads of livestock feed, handmade jewelry and automobile oil changes.

"The support is overwhelming," Schoth said. "Every time these kids go to one of these events they bring back a trophy and make our community look good."

Schoth said she isn't as concerned with winning as with the choirs "giving their best performance and enjoying a great experience."

Last year's auction brought the choir $8,500. They need $4,000 for the upcoming trips.

BHS senior Jessica White, a jazz choir member, helped organize the auction as her senior project and expects the evening event will be a success.

"I thought it would be easy but getting the auction going has been really challenging," White said. "But the community has supported us in the past and we think it will again."

Blair Koch may be reached at blairkoch@gmail.com or 208-316-2607.