Local choir joining hundreds of singers in the Big Apple

A Sudbury choir will get a rare opportunity to perform at New York's prestigious Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts.

Twenty-four singers from the Bel Canto Chorus will join other choirs from around the world to perform Handel's “Messiah” on Dec. 1.

“How many times do you get to say, 'I'm sorry, I'm busy on Dec. 1 because I'm going to be performing at the Lincoln Centre'?” said Bel Canto Chorus member Victoria Edwards. “I won't believe I'm going until I'm on the plane.”

Pamela Teed, the choir's director, said Distinguished Concerts International New York approached her about participating in the massive concert. The organization searches for choirs from around the world to participate in its events.

Teed sent them a recording of the choir in action, and they were later approved for the performance.

The Bel Canto Chorus was founded in the 1970s. Today it has around 70 members.

The trip to New York City will be a first for most of the 24 people who were selected to perform at the concert.

They will arrive in New York on Nov. 28 to practise with the larger choir – which will include hundreds of voices – in between sight-seeing.

In addition to the New York concert, the full choir will perform its annual Christmas concert at St. Andrew's United Church on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

Tickets for the concert at $15, and will feature a wide variety of music for the holidays, ranging from Mozart pieces to classic Christmas carols and more contemporary songs.