On Tuesday, Nov. 29, 25 members of the Seneca Street School choir in grades 2-6, will sing at the Turning Stone Events Center with the Barenaked Ladies. Carol Buza, the music teacher at Seneca Street, said that the Barenaked Ladies were looking for a local choir to sing with them on stage. "This is the first time that they have used a children's choir," Buza said.

The band was founded in 1988 by singer/guitarists Steven Page and Ed Robertson. The five-member group, which is native to Canada, has sold more than 10 million records worldwide. As part of its holiday tour, the group will perform songs off its new CD, "Barenaked for the Holidays."

"The students will be singing a total of six songs on stage," Buza said. Starting at 8 p.m., the children will sing three songs by themselves and then the band will join them for the other three songs. "One of the three songs that we will sing with the Barenaked Ladies is 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas.' "

Only having about a month to rehearse, Buza said that they will have had eight rehearsals before the concert. "We do everything after school," she said.

Calling the group BNL in front of the kids to keep matters appropriate, Buza said that the students will present the band members with Seneca Street School sweatshirts that they have all signed. In return, the school will receive a picture of the students with the band and the children will all receive T-shirts that say "I sang with BNL".

According to Buza, the students, who will dress in holiday colors for the concert, are ready to sing in front of 5,000 people. "They certainly have to be focused, but there's no doubt in my mind that they will be ready to sing," Buza said.

Buza also mentioned that the parents of the students get to watch the sound check and meet the band before the concert. "It will be fun," she added.

Erica Kristan, who is in fourth grade, said this is her first year in chorus. "Singing is a way to express your feelings to the world," she said. As for singing in front of 5,000 people, Kristan said that she is not nervous. "It has been a lot of fun rehearsing for the concert."

While Kristan doesn't really know who the Barenaked Ladies are, she has heard of some of their songs. "I really like 'If I Had A Million Dollars,' " she said.

Tickets are $25 or $45 and and can be purchased by calling the events center hotline at 1-877-833-7469 or are available online at:

www.turning-stone.com