Voices of Verona and West Essex Inc.

As we gathered for rehearsal for Voices on March 10, 2020 there was little sense that something was happening. Some rumblings of COVID. A case found in a Walmart. Nursing home deaths in Washington State. No headlines, just minor stories down the page. It didn’t even break the top 5 stories that day. We were in the Music Room of H B Whitehorne Middle School and it was 7:30pm.

Terry was prescient. We spoke, and I realized he was right – we would be impacted. I thanked him for seeing what others could not see. We raised the issue to the assembled members.

Our members are a fiesty and independent group, and there was disbelief if not defiance. “We want to continue”, was the consensus. After some discussion, we decided to hold our rehearsal – our last for at least 18 months. When it was time to go home, we said “see you next week,” not knowing if it was true.

Biden would win the democratic primary in Mississippi that night. The next day, the WHO would declare COVID a pandemic, Tom Hanks would announce he had COVID, and the NBA would abruptly shut down. The schools would shut down for two weeks. Then two months. Then indefinitely. Our determination to continue was not part of the equation.

We find ourselves in the middle of “the Great Reopening” and although many of us who have been vaccinated are feeling some relief and optimism, risks remain. The unvaccinated, the immunocompromised, children… and the variants and moving indoors in the fall – so many unknowns.

We are working towards a Fall 2021 season. Please check back for future updates.

Thomas Jung
President
Voices of Verona and West Essex Inc.

Park in Verona Municipal Lot #1.  Enter through the double white doors that are closest to the bank drive through (door is marked “D3”).  For more information, mail tjung@veronavoices.org

Fall 2019 Music Selection – click for rehearsal video

“Angels Gloria” – file #803 – last performed 2014 – medley
“Blizzard” – file number #767 – last performed 2012
“The Chanukah Song (We Are Lights)” – file #744 – performed 2008 (link is SATB)
“Ding Dong Merrily On High” – file #573 – last performed 2011
“Holiday Gloria” – file number #657 – last performed 2005
“Mary, Mary” – file #627 – last performed 2011
“The Miracle of Hanukkah” – file #746 – last performed 2011
“Merrily, Merrily, We Go Caroling” – file ##548 – last performed 2011
“Goin On A Sleighride” – new
“Once In Royal David’s City” – new
“The Man with the Bag” – file #611 – last performed 2006
“One More Candle” – file #701 – last performed 2009

Carol Sing – 4 carols (TBA)
12 Songs

Open House 9/10/19 from 7pm to 7:30pm
First Rehearsal 9/10/19 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm

Park in Verona Municipal Lot #1.  Enter through the double white doors that are closest to the bank drive through.  Doors are labelled “D3”.

We gratefully acknowledge a grant of $300 received via Essex County Div. of Cultural and Historic Affairs, from NJS Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.  Continue reading “Voices Receives Grant for 2019”

Platinum
Stephen Sandler, D.D.S. | Cirasella’s Jewlery

Gold
NY Bagel Cafe | Hillcrest Farms | Miele’s Restaurant | NY Bagel Cafe II  Frank Anthony’s Gourmet Italian | Verona Diner | The Lotus Spa and Tea  Aroy-D The Thai Elephant | Sue Cook | Cashel Salon | Terry’s Pharmacy

Silver
Brookdale Cleaners | Rich Powers | Hospitality Singers | Roni Hunt
Kids Hair Salon | Verona Shoe Repair | Main Street Cottage | Caldwell Diner
NJ Advanced Acupuncture | Bello by Daniel Ross | The Ferrante Press  Bagelwich | JT’s Barber Shop