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Whistler Children’s Chorus performs at Canada Day in Ottawa

Twenty-seven members of the Whistler Children’s Choir, director Alison Hunter, and four adults headed for Ottawa June 27.

Twenty-seven members of the Whistler Children’s Choir, director Alison Hunter, and four adults headed for Ottawa June 27.

The Whistler Children’s Chorus were invited to perform as part of a national televised celebration on Parliament Hill on Canada Day. They will be the only B.C. choir at the event.

The children range in age from nine to 18-years-old.

"We’re either in rehearsals, or performing, so there’s not a lot of free time!" says Hunter of the trip to the nation’s capital.

They will also perform at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa on Saturday night and at the Governor General’s garden party.

Choirs who auditioned were on an invite-only basis.

Hunter sent a tape of their show at the Kiwanis music festival 2001 to the review committee.

In a massed choir on Parliament Hill, which will include choirs from across the country, they will perform nine different songs including We Rise Again, by the Rankin Family.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra, led by conductor Mario Barnardi, accompanies.

The choir sings live at both the opening and closing ceremonies, broadcast by CBC TV starting at noon Eastern Time (9 a.m. locally).

Hunter says fund-raising in the community helped sponsor the trip, including a Cut-a-thon at local salon Razzmatazz which raised $1,000.

Local sponsors include Rotary Club of the Whistler Millennium.

The Whistler Children’s Chorus will be wearing pins from the 2010 Olympic bid committee, as well as pins from the RMOW.

While the choir is excited about the trip, they are used to performing at community events.

"We’re really going to miss singing at Whistler’s annual Canada Day Parade," notes Hunter.

"We’re so proud of the kids."