The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music is ringing in the New Year with the title “Best Choir in New York City” after winning the Bronx Zoo’s inaugural SING! For Wildlife competition. The Hard Rock Café sponsored the event, which featured 250 students from seven schools.

“Besides being a wonderful opportunity to perform, the students were able to see that all the hard work they put in to develop their repertoire, technique, and musicianship really does pay off,” said Lisa Gwasda, Celia Cruz’s choir director.

The competition was held at the Bronx Zoo over two days in late December. In the final, Celia Cruz’s 22-member choir was up against two other talented schools. They chose to perform a 15-minute medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “The Theme from Phantom of the Opera.” Each choir was judged on the basis of originality, performance, talent and audience reaction.

“I’ve been with this choir for three years,” said Celia Cruz student AnnMarie Oliveras, 17. “I’ve seen it go from mediocre choir at our school to top dog. It has been really nice to be part of its development and this accomplishment.”

For winning, the Celia Cruz choir received a $2,500 grant for its choir program and the opportunity to perform next month at The Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Since their victory, the school, a small school located in the Walton High School building, has received numerous invitations to sing at other events and will be performing in the Botanical Garden in March.

“It’s a wonderful thing to get our new small school on the map as performers,” said Gwasda. “This is what we came to do and it’s great to be rewarded for it.”