Singing the holidays into full swing
Student musical groups bring Christmas cheer to local nursing home
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

Baby, it was cold outside on Dec. 6, but local students made it warm in the hearts of residents at a local assisted-living facility.

The Redbird Singers and the Brass Ensemble from the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School brought a sparkle to the eyes of the community at Rose Hill in Robbinsville with a concert of holiday songs that concluded with a sing-along of traditional Christmas carols.

Residents expressed joy and gratitude to the singing and swinging seventh- and eighth-grade students led by Tara Tengood, who teaches music and theater at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School.

“The residents really appreciated it,” said Georgeann Polito, a caretaker at Rose Hill, after the concert. “These people have had a lot taken away from them, and it’s nice to see the community wanting to be part of their lives.”

Tengood commissioned a group of 25 students to bring a bit of holiday cheer to Rose Hill, which is a 72-bed facility. Performing were the Redbird Singers, consisting of about 20 chorus members, and the eighth-grade Brass Ensemble, which is made up of trumpeters, trombonists, French-horn players and two drummers.

PHOTOSBY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP The Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School’s Redbird Singers perform for members of the Rose Hill Assisted Living Community in Robbinsville on Dec. 3. Top left, eighth-grader Lauren Mruk delivers a Christmas card to a resident of Rose Hill.

“The kids work really hard to prepare for these performances — almost harder than for their own concerts,” Tengood said, “and it is a great experience for them.”

Tengood said the trip to the assisted-living facility was not only fun for the students, but also a learning experience that “put a lot of things into perspective for them.”

“We talked about what to expect,” Tengood said, “and some thought they were going to a place like a hospital, but now they see that even though these people have grown old, they are still active and do a lot of things.”

Allentown High School senior Laura Koons (l-r) plays a holiday tune with Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School Brass Ensemble members Carly Primich, Kelly Macuda and Erica Johnson at Rose Hill.

Eighth-grader Lauren Mruk, 13, sang with the chorus throughout the performance and was the soloist during “Once Upon a December.” She said the trip made her feel good.

“I’m happy because we got to make older people happy and let them know they are cared about during the holidays,” she said.

Seventh-grader Rachel Hannon, 13, said the trip meant a lot to her.

“It was nice to see smiles on people’s faces,” Rachel said.

When asked what she learned from the trip, Rachel responded, “It’s easy to make people happy by doing simple little things.”

Tengood said she watched the faces of the Rose Hill residents while her students performed.

“I could see how certain songs made some of them think, whether they were remembering their childhood or being close to their families,” she said. “A lot of the songs seemed to be bringing back memories of Christmases many years ago.”

Tengood continued, “I think trips like this make all the work that the kids put [into it] worth it to them.”

The Redbird Singers and the Brass Ensemble are voluntary, after-school activities. Tengood has been working with the students since September. Laura Koons, an Allentown High School senior, has helped Tengood with rehearsals for the Brass Ensemble.

Both musical groups have been practicing to perform during the holiday concert, which will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the middle school auditorium.

Eighth-grader Johnny Costa, who is a member of the Redbird Singers, said he joined the after-school program because he wants to be a better singer. With hopes to one day sing professionally, Johnny said the after-school program allows him more time to practice.

Of the trip to Rose Hill, Johnny said, “People have fun when we come here to sing.”

Eighth-grader Erica Johnson, 13, plays the trumpet in the Brass Ensemble.

“I think this was a really nice thing to do for the holidays,” she said.

Erica, who took up the trumpet two years ago, also said she joined the after-school Brass Ensemble because she intends to play trumpet at least throughout high school and she wanted the extra practice.

Tengood said the students in the after-school programs remain dedicated to music because it is so important.

“Music is a universal thing anyone can appreciate whether you are listening to it or performing it,” Tengood said.

The residents at Rose Hill enjoyed hearing the students perform pieces such as “White Christmas,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, “Believe” with soloist Melody Neilsen and many other winter favorites.

After the performance, the students gave out holiday cards made by Jane Lee-You’s fourth-grade class at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School.

“Every time that we have gone to Rose Hill during the holiday time, [the fourth-graders] have made beautiful cards for us to deliver,” Tengood said.

Tengood takes students to the assisted-living facility twice a year, she said.

“My only wish,” said caretaker Polito, “is that more people would come more often throughout the entire year.”