Niagara kids making it big as Mini Pops
Sometimes dreams do come true.
That certainly is the case for Maci Wood and Ryan Sherk.
The two are members of the reimagined Mini Pops. The pop singing and dancing group from the ’ 80s made a reappearance in 2004 when K- Tel relaunched the group.
The current Mini Pop kids, or MPK15 as they call themselves, consists of nine kids between the ages of nine and 15. Two of those kids are from Niagara — 12- year- old Ryan Sherk of St. Catharines and 13- yearold Maci Wood of Stevensville.
This is the second year for Maci with the group and for Ryan, this is his first. Both have been dancing for most of their lives.
Maci has loved singing since she can remember and has been performing in talent shows since Grade 4.
Ryan is relatively new to singing. Although he has been an avid dancer, dancing almost every style since he was four, he only recently discovered his talent for singing.
“It was crazy. It was something I had never experienced before,” said Ryan of the first time stepping into a recording studio. “When I had to go in to do my live audition, that’s where I auditioned, the recording studio, I was like, ‘ Oh my gosh, this is so cool.’”
It was Ryan’s sister Marisa who first pointed out Ryan’s voice to their mother; or Maci, it was her bus driver who suggested Maci try out for the Mini Pops.
“I was a little nervous at first but I went to the auditions and it was really fun that I got in and I was a Mini Pop,” said Maci.
The Mini Pops work with professional choreographers, vocal coaches and producers to record an album, music videos and go on tour.
“It’s a great start so you can get a taste of the music business,” said Maci. “You get a chance to be on TV, to be in music videos, to travel, to meet bands, it’s basically a little bit of everything.”
In addition to recording a twodisc album packed with covers of 23 hit songs and one original song, Make it Pop, the Mini Pops will be heading out on the road for a 16- date tour beginning in Guelph on Dec. 16. They travel as far as British Columbia and they will be heading back into Niagara for a show at Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls on March 10.
The group was scheduled to appearing on Breakfast Television this morning.
The Mini Pops released their latest disc last Friday. With rehearsals every weekend in Toronto, Terri Wood, Maci’s mother, is more than grateful to have another Mini Pop in Niagara to share driving duties with.
“Before Ryan was in the group it was just me trucking it back and forth. She is the farthest Mini Pop that lives out from Toronto. It’s been a godsend,” said Wood.
It didn’t take long for Maci and Ryan to bond.
“Us two families, we’ve merged,” quipped Maci. “I just slept over at his house a week ago. We are best friends. I’m best friends with his sister, too.”
Both parents realize the opportunities handed to their children.
“To work with the choreographer and vocal coach, it’s been a huge opportunity for him to meet so many people and it’s amazing how much they grow and they have outside opportunities.,” said Lynn Cullen, Ryan’s mother. “It’s been an incredible experience. I can’t even imagine what the first show is going to feel like.”
Both Maci and Ryan hope to one day call show business a career.
“I definitely want to turn this in to a career,” said Ryan.
“Oh, 100 per cent,” said Maci. “I want to be able to go out on stage and perform. I love what I am doing now so to be able to pursue it when I am older would be amazing.”