Big dreams — and even bigger voices. A local school choir could be headed to the Grammys — as a nominee. 7’s Heather Walker shares their performance — that caught the world’s attention in this 7Spotlight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This group of talented students may soon share the spotlight with some of music’s biggest stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choir member: “Like that’s crazy” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choir member: “It’s something like a type of person like Beyonc\u00e9 wins.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are talking about the Grammys — music’s highest honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choir member: “We were more shocked than anything because like, what a Grammy that just kind of sounds unreal, I guess.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It may feel like a dream for these Miami-Dade high school students – but they have a real shot at a Grammy nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriella Marquez, choir junior: “Every time I hear that, I’m like, ‘Wait, Grammy nomination? That’s like so cool, wait.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may not recognize their faces or know their names — but there is a good chance you’ve heard the performance that made them internet famous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cindy Ellis, choir director, Miami Arts Studio: “I’m so proud of the kids. It is absolutely unbelievable. We put a lot of work and effort into that performance, but I never once thought to myself, ‘We’re performing to potentially get a Grammy.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cindy Ellis is the choir director at Miami Arts Studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She leads an all-female group called MAS Vocal. The singers went viral last year for their powerful performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With millions of views, they went from school choir to global sensation — their voices touching hearts around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cindy Ellis, Choir Director at Miami Arts Studio: “Literally every corner, people from Australia to Canada to Brazil in languages that I’m like, ‘See translation, because I don’t even know.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The performance even caught the attention of the song’s composer, Grammy-winner Jacob Collier, who invited the girls to perform with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soloist, with the incredible voice, is Gabriella Marquez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriella Marquez, Choir Junior: “It was insane, I think the greatest performance experience of my entire life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriella and the girls all come from immigrant families; they say their shared journey gives the music the powerful emotion you feel when you hear them sing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choir member: “Some of us, our parents came here. Others, we ourselves, came here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Including the choir director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cindy Ellis, Choir Director at Miami Arts Studio: “I came in 2005 from Cuba because we are an all-female choir and because we are Hispanic because we are carrying our own journeys and our parents’ journeys and our grandparents’ journey and we are carrying Miami.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their dreams are only getting bigger— because a member of the Recording Academy has submitted them for Grammy consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriella Marquez, choir junior: “You know, win a Grammy, that would be so cool.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even cooler — if they are nominated, it will be the first high school choir ever — in the running for best choral performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cindy Ellis, Choir Director at Miami Arts Studio: “The goal was never to win a Grammy – that has been incredible because it’s taken a bunch of little girls from Miami, our little corner of the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shining a spotlight on Miami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 Grammy nominations will be announced on Friday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you know of a person, place or group that you think we should highlight, email us at\u00a07spotlight@wsvn.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"