Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen delivered the following member’s statement in the legislature on Dec. 3:
Mr. Speaker, this weekend the Flin Flon Community Choir was far away from home.
On Sunday, dozens of members from our community went to New York City to join voices with choirs from around the world.
Hailing from Singapore to Sudbury, eight international choirs and individual American singers sang a modern arrangement of Handel’s Messiah to a sold-out crowd.
Though I feel a little slighted I wasn’t chosen to lend my own beautiful signing voice, it is thrilling to hear of our very own Flin Flon Community Choir performing at such an internationally renowned event.
Their performance was part of the Distinguished Concerts International New York concert series, which brings together notable musicians from across the world to perform.
Additional members of our community supported the choir while they traveled: Tom Goodman, Bill Pauley and Bill Jackson.
These husbands of choir members didn’t quite make the cut either, and have since turned their sights on becoming Flin Flon Community Choir groupies instead.
This is not the first time the Flin Flon Community Choir has performed outside our community. They have traveled throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and have even performed at Carnegie Hall.
This is thanks in no small part to organizer Crystal Kolt, who continues to be such a passionate advocate for Flin Flon cultural organizations.
Mr. Speaker, BBC Music Magazine named this performances the number one live event for Christmas in North America.
I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Flin Flon Community Choir on their performance this Sunday.
I think it’s time to update that old tune “New York, New York” to something a little more local.
Maybe something along the lines of “Flin Flon… Flin Flon!” [sung to the tune of “New York New York”]
Thank you.
Flin Flon Community Choir choristers performed Handel’s Messiah in Flin Flon (pictured) before taking their act to New York City.
PHOTO BY JONATHON NAYLOR
