MARISSA, Ill. – It’s a rare opportunity for a young woman who has risen through the ranks of her small Illinois school band.

“I’ve been wanting to go to those kind of places for years now, so it was like, ‘What?’ I don’t know, it was crazy,” Jyelah Ivie said.

Ivie is the Marissa Marching Meteors’ band major. Her skill and hard work have earned her a place in the Illinois Ambassadors of Music and a European tour.

Ivie says her family is as excited as she is.

“I’m going to be gone for like, 15 days. They’re like, ‘Well, you ain’t never been away from home that long.’ I’m like, ‘Well, first time for everything, I guess,” Ivie said.

Ivie will visit England, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria on the tour.

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Band director Michael Maschmeier says he has been very impressed with how Ivie’s skills have grown.

“Jyelah is one of those type of students I like to say you get maybe half a dozen in a career. Someone who really loves playing music,” Maschmeier said.

The trip costs $8,000. Ivie has about $3,000 donated. She’s grateful for everyone helping her toward her dream.

“As I’m getting donations, I’m getting teary-eyed because I’m like, ‘What?’ I didn’t think it was really going to happen at first,” Ivie said.

To find out how you can help Jyelah accomplish her dreams, you can find the link here .

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