Church choirs are known for stirring souls and inspiring spirits through music.

Members of 12 local church choirs have donated more than $1,500 to give at-risk children the gift of music. Donations will be used to purchase tickets to a children's opera, along with a book about classical music for each child.

The collaborative effort is made possible by sponsors. Brasserie Ecosse restaurant, the Need to Read Book Club, the Spartanburg Festival Choir and church choirs from various denominations, including Central United Methodist Church, Fernwood Baptist Church, St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg have shown support. The Spartanburg Repertory Company is also involved in the effort.

Children will get to see the Repertory Company's upcoming production of "Harmoonia" and the Chapman Cultural Center, many of them for the first time. Seven children's charities are participating in the project.

Emily Conrad, founder of the Need to Read Book Club, has helped spearhead the effort. The 15-year-old has visited choirs to ask for their financial support.

The book club and the Repertory Company had a goal of providing tickets for 100 children to attend the opera. That goal has been surpassed.

Conrad said good music can inspire, and she believes the at-risk children being given tickets and books need inspiration.

"It's really a wonderful partnership because a lot of these children have no exposure to classical music whatsoever," Conrad said.

Lisa Cunningham, a Spartanburg Repertory Company board member, said Conrad is "very, very passionate about this program. She lights up like a Christmas tree when she talks about it."

Cunningham initially called church choir directors to see whether Conrad could visit and make presentations to choirs about the effort.

Every phone call she made was met with welcome response.

Cunningham was humbled by the Spartanburg community's show of support.

Westminster Presbyterian Church choir members have also donated money to the effort. Gary McCraw, director of music ministry at the church, said they were excited and wanted to help. Conrad's grandparents are members of Westminster, McCraw said.

About the children whom the project benefits, McCraw said, "As a musician and person in the arts myself, I just hope their lives will be touched in a positive way from this experience, experiencing the opera, experiencing music and learning through reading."