The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
From hitting the recording studio to entertaining paid guests, The Coppertones must be feeling like big-time musicians. Members of the beloved Flin Flon youth choir were in Winnipeg recently to record a professionally-produced CD. 'It was pretty amazing to like be able to record in a recording studio,' said Taylor Daneliuk, 12, one of the members who made the trip. Eve Cooper, 11, was also impressed. 'I never even thought I'd have the chance to be able to do that,' she said. 'I never even thought I'd be like that good of a singer to do that.' But she and the rest of The Coppertones sounded better than good as they recorded three songs on April 27. Wearing headphones and backed by an accompanist, the young choristers sang We Will, Tuxedo Junction and, appropriately enough, Small Voices. It hasn't been decided how many CDs will be produced or whether and album will be sold locally. It's not even clear when the final mix of the CD will be ready. But those considerations are secondary to the experience itself. 'I always look for an enrichment end-of-the-year project or trip,' said Coppertones director Susan Fulford. When the idea of a trip to a recording studio came from some of the parents, Fulford wasn't sure it was feasible. 'I thought, that's really out of our league,' she said. But when Fulford started making some phone calls, she learned such a trip was within reach _ with the help of a little fundraising. The weekend trip to the Manitoba capital had more to offer than a professional recording session. Some members of the choir joined Fulford in taking in an evening at the renowned Celebrations Dinner Theatre restaurant. It was there that cast members asked the choristers if they wanted to be part of their production of the rock 'n' roll musical Johnny Be Good. 'They asked us if we wanted to go on stage and we're like, 'Okay,'' said Eve. And so, unbeknownst to Fulford, Coppertones Eve, Taylor, Ella Pickering and Lauren Fox played fan girls in a portion of the show. Lauren made a particular splash as she emerged on stage dancing front and centre, wearing a boa. 'I thought, wow, what an experience,' said Fulford. 'I was excited. It was just fun, totally fun.' Another highlight of the trip was the chance to see the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra perform their Cirque Musica concert. 'The whole weekend was a musical enrichment,' said Fulford. This wasn't the first memorable trip The Coppertones have taken to Winnipeg. See 'Sang' on pg. Continued from pg. Last spring they sang at the Grand Staircase of the Manitoba Legislative Building as part of a concert series. 'The children in the Coppertones sang beautifully, urged on by their director, Susan Fulford,' Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen later said in a member's statement. Pettersen referred to the choir as a 'Flin Flon musical institution' _ and it's hard to argue with that statement. Around the community, The Coppertones, wearing their trademark green vests, are often found performing at events ranging from Culture Days to the Rotary Club's Christmas party for seniors. The Coppertones consist of Ella Pickering; Eve Cooper; Casey Cooper; Suzanne Nelson; Melanie Krushelnyski; Taylor Daneliuk; Haleigh Belcourt; Julia Smook; Mikylo Odut; Lauren Fox; Sydney Cable and Imogen Hyndman.
