Growing up, Stephanie Carbonneau had always wanted to be part of a girls’ choir.

She was a musically talented kid, who picked up on the piano at age 3 and found her singing voice soon after. She longed for a group that would foster those abilities. But around that time — the early ’80s in Kitsap — there weren’t many real groups for chorally-minded kids to join, she said.

Teaming up with Port Orchard-based teacher and director, Donald Stojack, they established the Cappella Girls’ Chorus in 1998.

The original 23-member girls’ Chorus evolved into the Cappella Choirs non-profit organization in 1999, which is now based at the Cappella Music Center on Sydney Avenue in Port Orchard.

After 10 years, with all of that in place, Carbonneau is ready to pass the torch. But before she goes, Carbonneau and the Cappella touring choir will be venturing to the most famous stage in music as Carnegie Hall in New York City later this month.

The Cappella Choir will join three other children’s choirs for three days of rehearsal and clinics in preparation for an official National Children’s Chorus concert June 14 at Carnegie.

They’ll be singing mostly opera-style pieces geared toward children’s choirs and studying with a distinguished and seasoned children’s chorus conductor named Emily Ellsworth Charbonneau said.