The choir has been invited to sing as part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York series in June after an assistant director saw a clip of them performing on YouTube.

To get the children and chaperones to New York will cost approximately $90,000.

Artistic director and choir founder Valerie Broad said the invitation was the stuff of dreams.

“We received an email from a assistant director who had listened heard us and was extremely impressed. She gave our name to the directors,” Ms Broad said.

“As you can imagine, we are all astonished. It came out of the blue. Carnegie Hall is definitely the pinnacle of any singer's dream. To be invited is really special. 

“Because we are a not-for-profit, volunteer group we usually can’t consider invitations like this.”

In the official invitation, DCINY artistic director Jonathan Griffth said Bendigo Youth Choir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers.

“These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community,” he said.

“This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.”

It will be the first time the choir has performed at Carnegie Hall and the second time they have sung in America.

“You certainly don't get invited to Carnegie every day. The only time we have been in America was in 2012 at World Choir Games where we won three silver medals,” Ms Broad.

“Fifteen of our younger singers will get four days of intense choral instruction under the baton of a world-class instructor and come back experienced choristers.” 

Funds raised from the crowdfunding campaign will go to repaying that debt and helping the children get there.

“Parents have been contributing but some have two children going or can't afford the money,” Ms Broad said.

The group will join other young performers to form a 300-voice choir to participate in the world premiere of Alberto Grau’s Music for Treble Voices under Venezualan conductor Maria Guinand.

Ms Broad founded the Bendigo Youth Choir in 1984 but never dreamed it would end up in one of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.

“I dreamed of having a choir accepted in Bendigo and possibly holding its own in Melbourne and one day performing overseas,” she said. 

Visit www.communities.bendigobank.com.au/projects/bendigoyouthchoir to donate.