Angela Ware
Hometown: Elmwood Park, NJ
Profession: Executive Assistant
Hobbies/Talents: Love to dance
When I started singing: Middle school
A favorite musical memory: Singing in Carnegie Hall with the LRHS Chorale
What I love about choir: Being part of a group & sharing my talent with others.
Social media: LinkedIn
Brenna Tesauro
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Clinical Nurse Strategist
Hobbies/Talents: Bowling, embroidery, reading
When I started singing: Middle school
A favorite musical memory: A lot of very fond memories from my senior year of high school doing Bye Bye Birdie with an awesome group of people.
What I love about choir: Working hard at something challenging and having it all come together
Jaclyn Fudge
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Children’s Librarian
Hobbies/Talents: Ringing bells
When I started singing: Middle school
A favorite musical memory: Singing in England with the Lakeland Regional High School Chorale!
What I love about choir: Everything
Social media: Facebook
James Greenspan
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Lawyer
Hobbies/Talents: Racquetball
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Performing with my college a capella group
What I love about choir: The camaraderie, "doing justice" to the music, and working towards and sometimes achieving a goal.
Social media: LinkedIn
Jessica Orlic
Hometown: Wanaque, NJ
Profession: Earth Science Teacher
Hobbies/Talents: Sci-fi nerd, cosplay, like to fix things and work with my hands.
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: My mom and I would always listen to music while we worked around the house. My dad and I would do the same in the garage. Music connects me to my late parents. Certain songs take me back those times.
What I love about choir: The camaraderie, getting to experience different music, and the feeling of accomplishing a piece that I didn't think I could do.
Lauren Belardo
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ (Sparta, currently)
Profession: Civil Engineer
Hobbies/Talents: I have kids so I have no time for hobbies! I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Lakeland Chorale - all of it!
What I love about choir: I enjoy being a part of something bigger than myself and helping to create something beautiful.
Social media: LinkedIn
Lauren B. Antonelli
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Healthcare Communications
Hobbies/Talents: Playing Piano, Triathlons, Reading, Cooking, Live Music, Travel
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Playing Maria in The Sound of Music
What I love about choir: Community, Comradery, Inspiration, Learning New Music and Composers, Sharing the Gift of Music
Lucie Fedeli
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Retired teacher
Hobbies/Talents: Skiing, theater, volunteer work, bridge, reading, opera
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: High school musical: Brigadoon
What I love about choir: The community of voices surrounding and including me; also learning new music
Leanne Esemplare
Hometown: Haskell, NJ (West Milford, currently)
Profession: School Psychologist
Hobbies/Talents: I enjoy baking, and recently took up making sourdough which has been a lot of fun! I also like to get outdoors and hike when I can. I like to craft from time to time as well.
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Probably getting to perform in cathedrals while touring in England with the Lakeland Chorale. That was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I’m so fortunate to have had. It’s a close tie between that and performing in Carnegie Hall multiple times, which I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to do.
What I love about choir: The camaraderie and friendships made. We’re all in the same room with the same goal in mind…to work together to make beautiful music!
Melody Hackett
Hometown: Belleville, MI (Ringwood, currently)
Profession: I am in my third year as a retired high school English teacher(25 years), and now I’m able to be the full-time support person for my 31 year old son who has Down Syndrome.
Hobbies/Talents: I love theater, reading, binge-watching good shows, traveling to Maine and Jersey Shore, knitting, and being “Mimi” to three grandkids
When I started singing: Middle school
A favorite musical memory: Performing with a touring chorale to Brazil during the college years!
What I love about choir: The HARMONY — building a gorgeous chord — and being part of a group of wonderful people.
Social media: Facebook
Samantha Kopacki
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Mental health therapist
Hobbies/Talents: Crafts, yoga, exercise, education
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Singing in the Vatican with the LRHS Chorale!
What I love about choir: The community and the connection that naturally happens when a group is all singing together :)
Sue Cail
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: High school modern languages teacher (UK), marketing communications specialist (USA), retired from both.
Hobbies/Talents: Probably!
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Singing in the chorus of HMS Pinafore at college, hearing a Rutter Christmas concert at St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
What I love about choir: Everything
Zoe Manolatos
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Adjunct professor of college writing
Hobbies/Talents: Writing, making art, hiking/foraging, soccer
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: The Christmas concert at St Peter’s in Morristown with the Lakeland chorale.
What I love about choir: The community and all the voices blending together to create beautiful music
Social media: Instagram
Nadege Nelson
Hometown: Airmont, NY
Profession: Registered Nurse
Hobbies/Talents: Exercise
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: Christmas Concert
What I love about choir: An opportunity to praise and worship God.
Rebecca Warren
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ (West Milford, currently)
Profession: I am a math teacher in Millburn NJ.
Hobbies/Talents: Playing ukelele
When I started singing: Middle School
A favorite musical memory: Singing in England with Lakeland Chorale.
What I love about choir: I love learning and executing a harmony. I also love the moments when everyone is super in sync and everything sounds almost magical.
Social Media: Instagram
Erin Greenspan
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Director of Operations at a law firm
Hobbies/Talents: I love art- painting, sculpting and all kinds of fiber arts
When I started singing: High school
A favorite musical memory: On tour with my high school choir in Canada, listening to and singing Andrew Lloyd Weber's Pie Jesu in a cathedral. It was perfect and beautiful and moving.
What I love about choir: I love being surrounded by harmony- I love the camaraderie. I love the feeling of putting on our best performance possible before an audience and the chance to feel moved and maybe even move or inspire others.
Social media: Facebook
Kerry Soloway - In Loving Memory
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY (Ringwood, currently)
Profession: Video editor for PBS stations
Hobbies/Talents: Theater/mime. Was a professional performer with the Pastel Mime Company, and performed solo as Kerry Lee Soloway/A Mime for All Seasons in the 1970s.
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Directing Gilbert & Sullivan operettas ("H.M.S. Pinafore," "The Mikado," "The Pirates of Penzance," and "The Gondoliers") for Iron Mountain Stage Company and music director of "Lionel Bart's 'Oliver!'" in high school. Least favorite memory was auditioning for the College Light Opera Company and getting a role in the stage crew. (It was best for all of us.)
What I love about choir: Camaraderie.
Kelly Duffy
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Teacher- Pre-k & music
Hobbies/Talents: Acting, piano, guitar, some dance experience
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Playing the Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods
What I love about choir: The beautiful sound many voices create together! The experience of collective effervescence & transcendence that occurs when all of the musical pieces fall into place. The community building and bonding that happens between people performing together.
Erin Schwab
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ (Bergenfield, currently)
Profession: Singer & Arts Administrator
Hobbies/Talents: Currently very into collage and other mixed media art forms!
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: So many of my favorite musical memories have been choir-related: The LRHS Chorale/Chamber Singers/Jazz Choir, Rutgers Kirkpatrick Choir, Downtown Voices, and beyond! I look forward to making new memories soon with the Skylands Chorale!
What I love about choir: The sense of community it can foster - it’s an activity that brings people together who might not otherwise have anything in common. For a handful of hours, you gather to share in something special and feel the rest of the busy world fall away!
Amanda Hamilton
Hometown: Butler, NJ (Oakland, currently)
Profession: I have been a vocal music director in the Verona Public Schools for many years. I teach general music, chorus, and theater classes. I have taught all ages of chorus students and assisted with many musical productions. I also teach at a music studio and give home lessons for piano and voice.
Hobbies/Talents: I love animals! One of my jobs outside of teaching is working at an animal hospital.
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Singing in All-State Choir- especially with the orchestra.
What I love about choir: I love the feeling of complete immersion in the music.
Woody Hood
Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ (Ringwood, currently)
Profession: Manufacturer’s Rep & Firefighter
Hobbies/Talents: Bridge, Reading
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Piano Bar
What I love about choir: Choir has been a part of my life since 1961 - I can’t remember a time without it and wouldn’t have it any other way!
Elise Garrett
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Legal Executive Assistant
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Piano Bar
What I love about choir: Catharsis
Lindsay Walker
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: I am a personal assistant and an artist
Hobbies/Talents: Painting
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Traveling with my high school choir to competitions all over the world
What I love about choir: Music unites people from all ages and walks of life
Lisa Fritzky
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Elementary School Music Teacher
Hobbies/Talents: Gardening
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Singing with my High School Choir in Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire, England.
What I love about choir: I love that feeling when everyone’s voices blend and you’re no longer just singing alone...you are part of something bigger. Your voices become one. Our world can be so busy with many distractions and choir feels like a rare moment where everything slows down and people connect in a truly meaningful, powerful and beautiful way.
Kristin Benzinger
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Administrator
Hobbies/Talents: Yoga, skiing, spending time with my 5 year old, Alexander.
When I started singing: Elementary school
A favorite musical memory: First Carnegie Hall performance with the Lakeland Chorale
What I love about choir: The sound of live music
Social media: Instagram
Diane DeNapoli
Hometown: Haskell, NJ
Profession: I'm a retired writer/editor
Hobbies/Talents: Amateur theater, both onstage and backstage. I love gardening too, and dabbling with drawing and painting.
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Reaching beyond profound shyness to sing my first solo part, despite full-body shakes and mild hyperventilation. I was thrilled to learn that I could do it!
What I love about choir: It can be incredibly moving! I enjoy the expressive music and the blending of many different voices to create a unified sound. And I love meeting others who share the same appreciation for it. Some of my closest friends are long-time choral singers.
Lynn-Marie Schnalzer
Hometown: New City, NY
Profession: General Manager of Dining Services at Manhattan School of Music
Hobbies/Talents: Skier, Cook, Camper, VERY involved in Scouting
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Two - Last minute in HS, Tenor soloist dropped out and I got to sing. Recently, soloist for Wade in the Water in church and hit notes in a belt that I didn't know I had!
What I love about choir: Camaraderie - Making Joyful Noise together
Sean Kecherson
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: IT Systems Engineer
Hobbies/Talents: Retro gaming, vinyl collecting, music arrangement/composition.
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Traveling to Ireland with the Lakeland Chorale, our tour bus broke down, and a family invited us into their home while we waited for a new bus. We sang for them and it was awesome.
What I love about choir: I enjoy the way all the voice parts click together and create interesting textures. Different vocal lines can interact and find connection with each other, while supporting other musical things that are going on.
Social media: Facebook
Jerry Hampel
Hometown: Wood-Ridge NJ (Ringwood, currently)
Profession: Sommelier Wine Sales
Hobbies/Talents: Golf, Cooking, Baking
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Attending my daughter’s many performances at Westminster Choir College
What I love about choir: The great energy that it produces
Michael Anderson
Hometown: Fair Lawn, NJ
Profession: Opera Singer/Teacher
Hobbies/Talents: Baking, cooking, pickleball, hockey
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Walking onto the Met stage for the first time.
What I love about choir: Collaboration to create art
Social media: Instagram
Bill Scher
Hometown: Hewitt, NJ
Profession: Gluten-free muffin baker
Hobbies/Talents: See above
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Singing at Carnegie Hall
What I love about choir: Camaraderie
Social media: Facebook
Robert McKay
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Retired
Hobbies/Talents: Guitar, French, Knights of Columbus, poker, reading.
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Singing, Light My Fire + I played the best the best guitar lead of my life... recently I took part in a singing masterclass given by Music for Humanity. I did acapella: Unchained Melody. One of my fellow singers said my rendition gave her chills.
What I love about choir: Contributing. My motto is first - do no harm. A choir is a perfect example of synergy: the whole is better than the sum of its parts.
Social media: Facebook
Mike Kern
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Hazmat shipping
Hobbies/Talents: Camping and live music
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Singing in St. Peters Basilica
What I love about choir: The camaraderie
Social media: Facebook
Michael Alworth
Hometown: Boonton, NJ
Profession: Office Manager / Freelance Singer
Hobbies/Talents: Golf /softball /bowling
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: First time my partner and I performed a duet together.
What I love about choir: The community that comes naturally from a group of singers working together
Shane Brown
Hometown: Bergenfield, NJ
Profession: Professional Singer & Office Coordinator
Hobbies/Talents: Too many, actually
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: Too many, actually
What I love about choir: Don’t get me started!
Social media: Instagram
Tristan Dunning
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Administrative
Hobbies/Talents: History, instruments, yoga
When I started singing: High School
A favorite musical memory: Mozart’s requiem at Carnegie Hall
What I love about choir: The singing challenges
Yolette Salvi
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Retired
Hobbies/Talents: Dance
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: When I was younger singing in different languages at wedding masses recently at the priest ordination & Christmas masses.
What I love about choir: Singing makes me feel happy and forget about pain and suffering.
Margarett Pierre
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Medical Technologist
Hobbies/Talents: Sports (tennis, volleyball, running, ballroom dancing and bicycling)
When I started singing: Elementary School
A favorite musical memory: My first Christmas concert solo was so magical. It’s very likely the entire reason why I continued studying music and took on piano.
What I love about choir: Singing in a choir gives me sense of belonging and joy of creating beautiful sound together.
Social media: LinkedIn
Janet Spirko
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Retired Music teacher
Hobbies/Talents: Travel, gardening, hiking
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Solo performance Carnegie Hall with Chip Dalton on the podium
What I love about choir: Everything!
Mark Savastano
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Director, IT
Hobbies/Talents: Playing Guitar, playing in a band
When I started singing: Middle School
A favorite musical memory: My band’s first show at Cupsaw lake.
What I love about choir: I want to get better at singing, and this is much different than the style of singing I normally perform with my band. It's fun to learn new styles.
Heather Frisbie
Hometown: Ringwood, NJ
Profession: Pharmaceutical quality system specialist
Hobbies/Talents: Hiking, exploring, crafting
When I started singing: Middle School
A favorite musical memory: Singing in Carnegie Hall
What I love about choir: The beautiful music
Social media: Facebook
Noelle Vallario
Hometown: Sparta, NJ
Profession: Barista
Hobbies/Talents: Reading, gardening, traveling, decorating, and making flower arrangements.
When I started singing: As soon as I could talk!
A favorite musical memory: Being onstage singing and dancing in any theater production I’ve done :)
What I love about choir: Hearing the final product of the beautiful music that we all make together!
Social media: Facebook