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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee National Youth Choir was recently named a finalist for a 2004 Indian Summer Music Award (ISMA).

The Cherokee National Youth Choir was nominated in the religious category for their CD, "Building One Fire". This CD is available for purchase at the Cherokee Nation Gift Shop in Tahlequah or online.

“The kids worked hard on this CD,” said Kathy Sierra, mother of Ryan Sierra, a member of the choir. “They had to give up a lot of their time in the summer to record everyday.”

ISMA winners will be announced September 11, at 7:30 p.m., at an awards ceremony in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“We are extremely gratified by the great response from musicians to our first annual Indian Summer Music Awards,” said Marie Collom, coordinator for ISMA. “The nominees are to be congratulated, since there was keen competition in many of the awards categories.”

The Cherokee National Youth Choir performs songs in the Cherokee language. The choir was formed to help preserve and protect the Cherokee culture and language. The choir has previously earned two Native American Music Awards (NAMMY’s) and three NAMMY nominations. The have performed at such prestigious locations as Ground Zero in New York City, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and as a guest of Dolly Parton at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Cherokee National Youth Choir is made up of 40 Cherokee youth from northeastern Oklahoma communities such as Stilwell, Locust Grove, Hulbert, Briggs and Tahlequah. The Choir members are middle and high school students between 6th and 12th grades. They compete in rigorous auditions every year for inclusion in the Cherokee National Youth Choir.

The choir is currently working on their fourth CD and it is scheduled for release this fall. For more information on the Cherokee National Youth Choir, contact Mary Kay Henderson, phone: 918-478-4473 or by e-mail.

Related paths: * Henderson Songs * Indian Summer Festival Milwaukee, Wisconsin September 10-12, 2004 * Indian Summer Music Awards Scheduled for Sept. 11, 2004

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org