You can still catch the Patriotic Salute of the North Jersey Chorus at The Hawthorne High School Auditorium on May 17th at 8:00p.m. In Oakland, the concert on May 3rd to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ramapo Baptist Church was a great success. The children’s choir of the church joined the NJC singers for a few songs, and they will also be on stage for the performance at Hawthorne High School. America is the land of second chances, and this is yours to catch a great concert featuring Oakland children and adults. You can read about it the upcoming concert in The Bergen Record.
As anyone who has attended a service, concert or event at the Ramapo Baptist Church, it is a warm and inviting community of 
people. Originally started by a group of local residents, they began by meeting 50 years ago in a local public school. They eventually purchased property on Ramapo Valley Road, and exchanged that for their present home on Franklin Avenue in Oakland. They describe themselves as a diverse, progressive, family-orientated congregation, and that is exactly what we found.
The congregation is led by the Pastor Herb Dorfman who welcomed the audience and introduced the church choir, the North Jersey Chorus, and the children’s choir. Having only rehearsed independently, the children’s choir exhibited the discipline of true professionals in projection, knowing the lyrics, and waiting patiently for their cue to join in. 
The North Jersey Chorus provided an outstanding performance of such songs as “I Hear America Singing”, “Song for the Unsung Hero”, and a medley of Irving Berlin classics. The rendition of “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” was especially moving as the house lights went on and the audience was asked to join in the singing.
The Baptist Church congregation invited the chorus and all the audience members to join in their anniversary celebration by breaking bread. That’s a humble expression to describe the cheeses, spreads, dips, crackers, fruits and a litany of sinfully delicious sweets that were all provided by members of the church.
The Hawthorne concert will be held on May 17th at 8:00p.m. and include Guest Soloist Dan Egan and Guest Trumpeter Dennis McPartland. The proceeds will go to the Music Scholarship fund. We especially welcome veterans and active service personnel to the concert at Hawthorne High School. They will be admitted free, and , if logistics allow, that concert will be video taped for our servicemen and women to see how much we appreciate what they are doing for our Country. Please come join them in this salute to the men and women, past and present, of America’s Armed Services.
The North Jersey Chorus is directed by Christine Vella Lovette, top photo, and accompanied by Robert Legacy, Jr., pictured below. The featured flutist is Linda Antlitz.
