— Kevin Underhill
Managing 75 voices can be a struggle for Sue Doman, but the final product is worth the work every time.
Doman started directing choirs in 2003 and founded Starlight Pops in 2008 when she noticed a distinct lack of popular music in the Victoria choir scene.
“I knew what type of music I wanted to perform but I had no idea there was so much hunger in the city for pop music,” Doman said.
“In the first year, we had 45 people sign up [for the choir] and that number quickly grew to 75.”
She now has a waitlist of 160 people eagerly waiting for a chance to perform on Victoria’s pop music stage. Because of the interest, Doman said she will be starting another choir with a similar vision.
“There’s something in the works,” she said. “I can’t say too much for now but it won’t be a traditional choir and it will be similar to Starlight.”
Doman says the biggest challenge in leading a 75-voice choir is finding the right balance.
“Leadership is a major balancing act. We also have to deal with the fact that everyone has a life outside of the choir,” she said, adding that the challenges are always worth the reward when the group performs.
Starlight Pops’ upcoming performance, ‘VEGAS, Baby,’ brings the sounds of the strip to Victoria’s St. Aidan’s United Church (3703 St. Aidan’s St.) on Jan. 29 and 31.
“Many of our arrangements have a classic Rat Pack influence anyway but this show features the music of Vegas headliners from all eras,” Doman said.