Sandy Hook Student Choir to Perform on E!'s GRAMMY AWARD Pre-Show

After a stirring performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on ABC's 'Good Morning America' last month, children from the town of Newtown, CT are set to appear on E! Network's Grammy Awards preshow this Sunday, February 10th. CBSNews.com reports E! host Ryan Seacrest will have a crew on hand in the small New England town to coordinate a live interview via satellite with the children.

The 21-member choir, many of whom are students at Sandy Hook Elementary School, recorded the classic tune from 'The Wizard of Oz' last month, accompanied by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. The recording was made at the home of rockers Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Tim Hayes, who co-produced the song, revealed that the children will also perform this summer's biggest hit, Carly Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' during the Grammy pre-show.

Sabrina Post, who directs the group, said the children wanted to use their talents in order to pay tribute to their fallen friends and neighbors who were tragically gunned down in one of the worst school massacres in American history last December. "This opportunity to do something positive lets the kids know that although a lot of things happen in our world that are not pleasant, like this that happened with us in Newtown, there are many giving people and wonderful things that can come out of life, so don't get discouraged," she said. "It teaches them to use their gifts to work through things."

While the children have performed at a recent benefit concert which featured legendary singer Paul Simon, and will soon make a TV appearance on Katie Couric's talk show, Hayes says that there are currently no future plans for additional public appearances. "We know the kids involved have had a wonderful experience, but we think this chapter is now done, and we want these kids to get back to being kids," he said.

Copies of their version of "Over the Rainbow" are being sold on Amazon and iTunes. The proceeds from the download of the single benefit the United Way of Western Connecticut and the Newtown Youth Academy. The nonprofit sports center has opened free programs to Newtown children after the shooting and hopes to expand free programming.

Photo courtesy of ABC

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