BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — Pine Brook School pupils have done it again, performing in song and dance before parents, staff members and their fellow students.
More than 180 fourth, fifth and sixth grade pupils under the directorship of Colleen Marcello took part in the recent choir winter concert.
“We’re thrilled that our chorus is such an inclusive program and that so many of our students are involved,” said Principal William Ciullo. “When we add these kids to the number of students that are in beginners band and our advanced bands, we probably have over 40 percent of our student population involved with music in some way and that is most delightful and exciting.”
Musical selections varied from a solo by Ashley Williams in Spanish, “Campanas vespertinas,” to “Oh How Lovely Is the Evening,” highlighted by Pine Brook bell choir members Alexandra Cherin, Kara Higgins, Nicole Linares, Dana McGrane, Matthew Miller, Brian Morgan and Alexa Sparano.
Then it was off to a winter medley which included “Winter Fantasy,” “Suzy Snowflake,” solo by Sabrina Gutwilik, “Let it Snow,” and “Frosty the Snowman,” solo by Cara Daniello.
In honor of the Chinese New Year, pupils performed a “Mongolian Night Song,” with soloists Sydney Rosenberg and Kristen Marley, while dancers Alex Delseni, David Delseni, Jason Cocklin and Gianna Natale performed the “Chinese Lion Dance.”
The pupils then joined in singing “We Go Together” from Grease, followed by “Side by Side” and “Friendship.” Soloists for “Friendship” included Michael Maxham, Jonathan Ayaz, Logan Samuels, Richard Pinnola, Nicole Ciullo, Colleen Madden, Alyssa Sciangula, Katie Austin, Amanda Fugel and Julies Dantoni.
Sami Citro, Sonya Chistov and Jillian Rosenblum sang “Pieces of Me.”
Members of the sixth grade choir sang “I’ll Be There For You,” the theme song from “Friends,” and the sixth grade choir, with cheerleaders and football players, joined soloists Danny Masterov, Manny Martinez and Melissa Silano in performing “Be True To Your School.”
The Pine Brook choir presented evening performances on Jan. 26-27, in addition to two daytime performances for students and staff members on
Jan. 28.