photo by: Nick Krug

Free State High School freshman Morgan Goeser, left, and Lawrence High School sophomore Elizabeth Hernly will soon perform with a 100-member girls choir at a Democratic National Convention event in Philadelphia. The two are pictured on Friday, July 22, 2016 in the auditorium at Free State High School.

When politicians and delegates gather in Philadelphia this week for the Democratic National Convention, two Lawrence teens will be in their midst.

Lawrence high school students Elizabeth Hernly and Morgan Goeser were selected to represent Kansas in a 100-member girls choir — made up of two girls from each state — that will perform at several locations in Philadelphia this week, including the DNC.

“I love singing in choir so much, and I’m just really excited,” said Goeser, who will be a freshman at Free State next school year. “It’s going to be a really great opportunity — I think it’s really cool that two girls from each state are going to be there.”

Like Goeser, Hernly is also looking forward to the trip.

“I’m really excited to get to go and represent Kansas,” said Hernly, who will be a sophomore at Lawrence High School next school year.

The 100-member choir will take part in a five-day choral festival, “Let Freedom SING!” Girlchoir National Convention. The choir will perform during at least one official DNC event on Wednesday afternoon, and festival organizers say the choir is also in the running to perform the national anthem for the closing day of the convention Thursday.

This is the first year for the festival, which is nonpartisan, and organizers said the idea behind the event is to inspire national unity during the presidential election year.

“To do something that showcases the power of choral music to literally bring people together from all 50 states, and hopefully inspire our public servants on both sides of aisle to find ways to bring us together in the way that music can,” said Steven Fisher, the festival’s founder.

As part of the convention, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is presumed to become the party’s official nominee — the first women to do so. Fisher said the historic nature of the convention adds another layer to hosting an all-girls choir festival.

“It does kind of allow everybody to take part in something historic around women, and the progress for women,” Fisher said.

Hernly and Goeser both sing in the Lawrence Children’s Choir, which is sponsoring their trip. Carolyn Welch, the choir’s artistic director, will be one of 10 guest conductors from across the country taking part in the festival. In addition to the performances, choir members will take part in singing clinics with the guest conductors.

“There are lots of choral festivals that happen every summer all over the U.S. and they all have a different kind of flavor, but this one is really unique,” Welch said.

The choir will give multiple performances July 24-28 in Philadelphia, including some “pop up” performances at historic locations throughout the city. The song lineup includes several patriotic staples, such as “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Hernly said she is looking forward to singing in such a different atmosphere, as well as meeting girls from different states and musical backgrounds.

“We’re coming from all different choirs, so I’ll get to meet some new people and have a broader spectrum,” Hernly said.

For Goeser, it also largely comes down to the music.

“I’m just looking forward to singing there,” she said. “I think that will be a really good experience.”

The festival is hosted by the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, of which Fisher is also the founder. Fisher said he plans to continue the festival in future presidential election years, alternating between girls and boys choirs, as well as between the Democratic and Republican conventions.

“This is not about politics or taking particular sides, but just using the national spotlight to create something that rises above partisanship,” Fisher said.