British Columbia

Fort St. John choir to take the stage in New York City

If they can make it there, they'll make it anywhere. A Fort St. John choir is one of 15 invited to perform Handel's Messiah at New York City's Carnegie Hall on Sunday.

From FSJ to NYC, this choir was one of 15 from around the world invited to perform at Carnegie Hall

Alan Stebbing stands by a poster of his group's performance of Handel's Messiah.

A choir from Fort St. John is hitting the stage in New York City this week.

The North Peace Community Choir is set to perform Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, and tenor Alan Stebbing says the trip has been "amazing."

"It's been a blast so far," he told Daybreak North host Russell Bowers. "It's been a real thrill just to see all the things you've heard about for so long and actually get to be here and experience them."

Although Stebbing is in the Big Apple for the first time, he's gotten the low-down from his parents and grandparents — who have also performed at Carnegie Hall.

"Talking to my grandparents and my parents, I've gotten at least some sort of sense of the enormity of what we get to do here," he said.

"They said it's one of those things in life that absolutely does not disappoint — when you get out on that stage with all that history. It's like nothing else you'll ever experience."

Stebbing says his goal of the trip is to share the joy of music, the joy of performing and also the joy of knowing that others are listening to their music.

The North Peace Community Choir is joining 15 other choirs from around the world for a singing of Handel's Messiah.

And while they're not the only choir from Canada, they're certainly unusual for coming from such a small city.

"People know where Vancouver is around the world, people may know where Toronto is, but people have been excited to look and see and learn where Fort St. John is," he said.

The North Peace Community Choir will take the stage at Carnegie Hall on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.


To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: From small town to Big Apple: FSJ choir to perform at Carnegie Hall