by Frank Niemann

RED BANK,  NJ — The Chorus of the Atlantic is the Red Bank Area Chapter of SPEBSQSA.* directed by Tom DeBruin, of West Long Branch. They will present their annual Christmas show, “Harmony With Brass” at Ocean Township High School, West Park Avenue, Oakhurst, Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 PM.

photo Frank Niemann Members of Chorus of the Atlantic Perform

The 40 member Chorus of the Atlantic will sing the following songs in classical Barbershop close harmony. “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Home For The Holidays,” “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Christmas Chopsticks,” “Let It Snow” “Auld Lang Syne”, “Lo, How A Rose Err Blooming,” “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night.”

The featured guest in this years show will be the Glory Brass quintet from the Avenel Presbyterian Church in Avenel, NJ. This brass quintet of accomplished musicians was founded in 1996 and have appeared at worship services, weddings and community service programs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania during the past seven years. Randell Hunt plays a Baritone Horn (Euphonium) and is the business manager for the quintet. He has been a performing musician for 29 years playing the Euphonium and Timpani for the Imperial Brass Band and the Woodbridge Community Band. Darla Hunt plays Tuba and is an elementary instrumental music teacher for the North Brunswick Township Schools and has performed in the Plainfield and Hunterdon Symphony Orchestras. Robert Hornyak plays Trumpet and has appeared at the Medieval Times Dinner Theater and is the Herald Trumpeter with the NJ Renaissance Faire. Mark Tarby also plays a Baritone Horn (Euphonium) and has appeared with the Lehigh University Chamber Orchestra and the Chessmen Drum & Bugle Corps. George Terebush plays Trumpet in various ensembles in Central New Jersey and is also a professional magician and ventriloquist performing in children’s safety seminars. The Glory Brass will feature “What Child is This” by James Curnow and “Bring A Torch” by Jeannette Isabella and arranged by Douglas Smith. .

The “Classy Seniors” quartet (Phil Wilderotter of Oakhurst, Russ Monahan of Sea Girt, Bob Smith of West Belmar, and Tom Cameron of West Long Branch) will sing “Deck the Halls.” & “All I Want for Christmas Is My New False Teeth.” The “Occasion” quartet blends the voices of Kevin O,Keefe (Lead), Tom DeBruin, (Bass), Dennis O’Keefe (Baritone), and Dave Hoffman (Tenor) and they will sing “The Secret of Christmas”. The “Matinee Idles,” directed by Ray Volz of Neptune, is a very large quartet of 20 retired men with a combined age of 1,328 years and 350 years of Barbershop singing experience. The Idles will present “Away in the Manager,” “While By My Sheep,” the “Dreydl Song,” and do you “Do You Hear What I Hear ?” The Glory Brass will join with the Chorus of the Atlantic to close the show in a memorable arrangement “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

This show is presented on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and the Chorus of the Atlantic will sing a medley of military hymns from every branch of service in honor to brave men and women who have… and still are, defending our precious freedom. Not all of the “brass” in this show is a horn! Baritone, Jim Young is a retired Air Force General that flew 78 different types of aircraft in World War II. He continued his service throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars. After many hundreds of missions “General Jim” finally retired in 1980 with more than 12,000 hours logged in the cockpit. Thanks Jim, for your 40 years sacrifice and service to the United States. Lead, Ralph Jeffers (of Ocean Township) was aboard the USS Curtiss, a seaplane tender, in Pearl Harbor at 7:55 AM on that fateful December 7, 1941 day. His ship was the first ship in Pearl Harbor to be attacked that morning by an enemy aircraft that intentionally flew into his ship. (read more) This was followed by dive bomb attacks scoring many direct hits one of which exploded near the spot where Ralph was standing and massive ship equipment is all that shielded Ralph from the explosion. Ralph is one of the silent American heroes, who survived the attack and will share his stirring experiences of what it means to be free with the audience.

photos Allan Dean Jim Young

Ralph Jeffers

Harmony With Brass promises to be a very enjoyable, moving, and upbeat holiday show offering wholesome family entertainment to kick off your 2003 holiday season. The audience participation arrangement of the popular “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a sure winner to get you into the “holiday spirit” and Santa Claus will be there with candy for the girls and boys of all ages! The door prize will be a “Singing Valentine” presented to that “special someone” by a uniformed quartet at a place of the winner’s choosing on Feb. 14, 2004. If, you enjoy the a cappella close harmony singing of men’s voices, and the distinctive sound of Brass instruments this show is two hours of holiday entertainment that all of your friends and family will enjoy! Start your holiday season off with Harmony and Brass… Tickets are now available. $12.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Senior Citizens, kids 16 years and under are free. The Chorus of the Atlantic is a non-profit organization and uses these proceeds to fund the sponsorship of community projects. Circle 12/7/03 on your calendar now and call Frank Niemann (732) 389-2150 for your tickets! Email: fniemann@monmouth.com