Chorus Credited With Bringing Teaneck Together In Song

by Megan Merrigan 

The Teaneck Community Chorus was honored with this year’s Matthew Feldman Community Relations Award for their commitment to diversity and unifying the community through song.

The award is given yearly by Teaneck’s Advisory Board on Community Relations to a deserving individual or group that lives or works in town and exemplifies the same desire to bring the community together as the late Matthew Feldman, a former Teaneck Mayor and State Senator.

“We look forward to presenting this award every year,” Patricia White, the chairwoman of the Advisory Board on Community Relations, said at the June 25 Council meeting where the chorus was celebrated.

“This year it was a difficult, difficult task,” White said of determining which candidate would receive the award. She described the other 14 nominees as “phenomenal.”

Sen. Loretta Weinberg presented the chorus with a proclamation on the award. 

“It’s certainly as great achievement to be recognized by the community for something positive,” Teaneck Community Chorus outgoing President Gail Smith said.

Since its conception in 1999, the chorus has maintained a vision statement, which declares its commitment to “bring the community together in celebration of our diversity.”

“Now more than ever, we all need to learn to sing together, to listen to one another and to celebrate and embrace our diversity,” the Teaneck Community Chorus’ vision statement reads.

Not only does the chorus strive to recognize Teaneck’s cultural diversity, but it looks to embrace its generational diversity as well.

In recent years the chorus has taken measures to include the township’s youth in its musical endeavors. Its most notable initiative is Teaneck Teen Idol, an annual singing competition for Teaneck residents between the ages of 13 and 18.

“It’s a good opportunity for (the students) to work with one another,” Smith said. “It gives the young folks a positive way to express themselves.”

The chorus puts together two concerts a year, where they perform music from various cultures, decades and genres.

Additionally, the group takes part in different local events including the town’s annual Independence Day parade and the County’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, to name a few.

The chorus will also host a community sing-along at the Ethical Cultural Center on August 11.

“It’s just another great way to contribute to the community in a positive way,” Smith said.