Can you spare some $$$ to help local youth musical group?

A YOUTH GROUP affiliated with the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts has been invited to a prestigious music event in Tennessee later this month but needs financial help to get there.

But we're not talking about all that much money - maybe $5,000 altogether for airfare.

The Clef Club is hyped about getting the students in the Youth Jazz Ambassador Ensemble onstage at the Berklee City Music Network Conference from Oct. 28 to 30 in Memphis, which will increase the kids' chances of getting scholarships to the Berklee College of Music. Located in Boston, it's an internationally acclaimed school that produced Esperanza Spalding and John Mayer, among other artists.

"We all understand that this is last-minute, but we just got chosen at the last minute," explained Lovett Hines, the Clef Club's education director. "I don't want to tell them we're not going to make it because of transportation. We're going to find a way."

The worst-case scenario is that the Clef Club will rent a van and drive ensemble members to Memphis. But one youngster, 15-year-old Immanuel Wilkins, who has performed at the Cape May Jazz Festival and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, has been booked to play the national anthem at the Sixers' opening game the day after the group is supposed to return.

That would be a lot for an adult, much less a student. Immanuel attends Upper Darby High School. No matter what, the Clef Club is determined that their youngsters will perform.

"It's a pretty big deal," said Hines, who's trying to raise money. "I think only five ensembles are chosen nationally, and the students are going to be performing with Kirk Whalum and Shoshana Bean. These are Grammy winners."

With your help, maybe some members of the Youth Jazz Ambassador Ensemble one day will become Grammy winners as well.

Word is they're really good.

Hines says, "This is one of the most talented groups I've ever worked with."