Flo Pugh, Alto, Soloist and Peninsula Singers Facebook editor.
“For years, a very good friend of mine kept on asking me, “Flo, do you wanna join my choir? Come on Flo, join the choir. We don’t just sing, we dance too, and sometimes we even perform in costume!” I would continually decline, saying I was too busy, which I was. As a full time, stay at home parent, I was completely focused on taking care of my family. But somewhere in there, I was no longer taking care of myself; and music had all but disappeared from my life. In 2013, I finally hit a point where my need for self-care became very apparent, and I said yes to the choir. Lucky for me, they in turn said yes to my audition! Being part of the Peninsula Singers continues to bring me great joy to this day, bonding an amazing group of people through laughter and song. Thanks, Adrienne, for not giving up on bugging me to join the choir.”
Shevaun North – Soprano and Soloist
“I grew up singing in a youth choir and as I got older, I realized how much I missed singing with a group. I look forward to our rehearsals every week and the Peninsula Singers feel like family to me. Everyone is so welcoming, and it brings me so much happiness to sing and perform with them!”
Don Macnamara
“Since I joined the Singers, “a night out with the boys” has a whole new meaning. I’m singing along with 15 or 20 other guys, all with individual musical capabilities—which range from modest to almost professional. What we have In common is a love of choral music and we do have fun. If we get lost or hit the wrong note or word, it’s easily overcome since there is always some guy nearby to get you back on track. Our occasional Saturday morning sessions—men only–help us keep even or ahead of the women. Each show features us on our own. We’ve sung everything from “There Is Nothin Like a Dame” to “The Good Old Hockey Game”, and they’re inevitably a comedy highlight. Apart from the fun we have, there’s much satisfaction in seeing our audiences smile and then applaud. Our Director, Lena Palermo, is the source of that with her experience, musicality and great good humour.”
Louise Jovanovic
“Peninsula Singers is a chorus like no other on the South Island. We have a dedicated following of community members from Victoria through to Sidney and, as they tell us at the end of every concert series, “that was your best concert!” And we wonder, how can we top that. But apparently, we do. Our energy, joie de vivre and thematically based programs send audience members home with a smile and a song in their hearts. Under the dynamic and good-humoured direction of Lena Palermo, we enjoy the collaborative work required to sell out six performances a year at the Charlie White Theatre in the Mary Winspear Centre.”