Guest Book 2007

Here are what people said about last year!

Comments

[Robert Valero]

Looks like the "Wilma Lee Clan" won't be able to make it this year. It's hard for us out-of-staters to get to NJ so close to Christmas. I'll be there in spirit! Best wishes to all, and hope to see you next year.

Robert Valero, RHS '78

[Tom Drake]

Wow, sure wish I could be there! It's a long way from Phoenix. Mr Beavers, you have told the story in the past of a persons name coming back on top of the stack for the All State choir... that was me! Certainly it was mostly due to your great teaching. You were by far the best teacher I ever had. Merry Christmas to all!

[Steve curtis]

Hey everyone!
Gearing –up for this years sing-in! Can’t wait to see everyone again- including you fellow classmates that didn’t make it last year. Click on the URL to see last year’s photos.
http://www.enter.net/~sbcurtis/rhsmr07/rhsmessiahreunion07.html
I’ll take even more this year.
See you on the 20th!

[Pamela Greene Tanner]

I attended this event last December with husband, Billy Tanner. I thoroughly enjoyed singing this amazing work, and you guys sounded awesome! Most of all, I enjoyed watching my Billy enjoy himself. He grinned from ear to ear the whole evening. When is the one for this year taking place?

[sam]

its amazing site thanks alot

[Bob Smith]

Photos are great! RHS is one good looking, good singing bunch. Steve, could you put names and/or captions under the photos for everyone? Thanks!

[Steve Curtis]

I have some photos taken at the Barn posted here...

http://www.adoramapix.com/rhs-choir-07/RHS+Choir/

Email me if you have problems viewing them.
sbcurtis@verizon.net

Bill Briggs has posted on the NJ Messiah Sing-In's main page, some of the songs that didn't make it to the CD (do to time restraints). Plus “For Unto Us”(which did, but posted there for an example of the CD, incase you didn’t get to order one yet). Be sure to check them out!

Have a GREAT 2008 Everyone! And see you next DEC.
Steve

[Bob Smith]

Have any of the photos of the event been posted on the net yet?

[Robert D, Mino, M.D., F.A.C.S]

NJ Messiah sing-in was a (if not the) highlight of this Christmas Season for me. Thank you to all of you who worked so hard to pull it off. It was deeply moving for me to see so many of my former friends, classmates and especially those with whom I was very close. I only wish that there had been more time to sit down and talk one on one in the hope of rekindling some relationships on a deeper level. Perhaps next year! Just the opportunity to sing Handel's magnificent work with all of you as we did 35 years ago has stirred memories in me that even now 2 weeks later continue pop into my conscious thought. Thank you for helping me make a memory that is sure to last for years to come. I look forward to seeing you all again next year along with many more who are sure to attend after learning of this year's wonderful event.
Robert D. Mino, MD

[Kim (Tyler) Walton]

Thank you for the opportunity to feel like a teenager again, and to reconnect with some very special friends after too many years. How cool to see so many familiar faces walking around! I'm sure I'm not the only one with "no breath" written a bunch of times in my score - actually managed to do that once and didn't even need oxygen afterwards! Can't say the same for some of the runs though - will do better next year...

I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Roxbury Choir Family, and want to thank Mr. Beavers for starting a great tradition and for being a truly awesome teacher. To not only be able to sing The Messiah, but to actually sing it well (in my humble opinion!) is something we can all be proud of. Hopefully this was the start of a new yearly tradition, with more cooperative weather in the future!

My daughter is in 8th grade and has yet to have choir offered. I don't hold out much hope for a good program in her high school as the choir director and the band director are the same person, and I'm guessing is spread too thin. I am sad that she will probably never have a "choir family" like I did, and it makes me appreciate my experience all the more. Thanks to all of you who made it possible to relive special memories!

Mr. B wants to fill the church next year. If Laura Dohrmann can fly in from India (yes, INDIA!!), we can do this for him. No excuses people - mark your calendars now! Whether you went to Roxbury or not; whether you had Mr. B or not; it's a great way to celebrate the season, see some old(er) friends, and maybe make some new ones. See y'all there!!

[Suzanne Wingard Senackerib '80]

Wow, what a great experience. We were so spoiled to have Mr Beavers as a choir director at RHS; I've never had a director since who could live up to him! He must have taught us well, it all came back so quickly! When I hear professional Messiah recordings, I find myself criticizing them for having too many S's in For Unto Usss a Child is Born, and other similar issues - you think they'd know better, if Bud managed to get us to get it right in high school. And I still wince when I go to a choral rehearsal and see people singing with poor posture.

It was so good to see so many old friends (old as in "from the past," not as in "aged".) And now reading through the guest book I realize there were others that I didn't even realize were there and didn't get to speak with. I guess I'll just have to make the trek back from Massachusetts again next year. (And for those who were worried, my son and I gave up the idea of trying to beat the storm home on Saturday night, and waited it out at the home of relatives in NJ).

I brought a camera but didn't take any photos, so I am anxiously awaiting the professional photos to be published. And of course the CD/DVD!

[Steve Curtis]

Hi EVERYONE,

As I sit and work on the post-editing for the CD (and singing along -at the edge of my chair) I just can’t believe how great everyone sounded. The soloists are just OUTSTANDING!!!
Although I didn’t sit with all of you, I did sing from the back. But what I couldn’t believe is how much I remembered. (Ask Gil, he was following the book). I couldn’t believe how much was ‘hard wired’ from those four years of practice and performing.
Another thing I came to realize is what a wonderful piece of music this is and how fortunate we were to have it taught to us by a superb teacher/director.

BUD- I’m sorry, it took me 30 years. But, I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to sing this GREAT masterpiece, making it apart of our lives and giving us the chance to perform it again.

I, too, so-much enjoyed seeing everyone again. I was glad to see that although most of us changed on the outside (some more than others ;-) ), we remained very much the same on the inside.

We’re 1/3rd finished on the post-production of the recording. We’ll try and work around the ‘Holiday-rush’ stuff to get it ready as soon as possible. We’ll have Patti send an email on the when, where, how, etc. In the mean time check Gil’s web-site (willisgillis.com) over the next few days for an MP3 of “For unto Us”.

Haven’t had a chance to post my pictures yet—that ‘holiday-rush’ thing again. Will email something out on that, too, when done.

I hope everyone has a GREAT holiday, Christmas and New Year.

Steve
sbcurtis@verizon.net

[Sandy Bracigliano Gillott '80]

I, too, had the most amazing experience. It was so good to see all of you again and to sing the Messiah with Mr. B. conducting. Mr. B. was his usual wonderful, warm, talented, and entertaining self! He is the ultimate teacher and the main reason we all would travel for many many miles and assemble after 30+years. But the years really melted away and it was a chance to feel young and be in choir again. I don't think anything could top that for me! John Girvin....great piano as usual! (I appreciate the cues you gave us too). It was a pleasure to sit and speak with you, I felt honored! Bob, Rila, Nadine, Carol...there was nothing better than seeing all of you talking and joking and laughing, just like in high school. It was as if you just picked up just where you left off and it warmed my heart! and yes, I recognized a lot of the faces first, (people looked the same) before my brain could come up with the names. Lorraine Kelly, Kathy Morris and Bill Tanner are still the most beautiful looking people...they should bottle their secret! Dave Locasio...you too...your smile is exactly the same! (It was great to see you and hear about your three sons!) Pat and Jeff Siegel...I had to get past my initial awe of the choir super-couple :) ...but it was so nice to sit with and talk to you both...good people. Pat, extra thanks to you and Cindy Rosa and Valerie Peel for helping to put this together! Liz Cushing... I can't wait to get your email...we can talk about the trials of motherhood and you can give me tips on healthy living! Teri Aperawick you are still so sweet...and you too Sarah Wright, with such talent! And speaking of being surrounded by talent! Guitar God Gil LeDuc...I was humbled to be in your presence. Yes, I really did have a Polished Glass T-shirt..I may still have a transfer around... and I couldn't believe I was sitting with theater stars Mark Tarnacki and Steve Miller...it was a bit overwhelming! Steve, I was so thrilled to see you again! I wanted to say that I was always so envious of your talent, energy, and guts to go after your acting dream...(wish I were as brave). Keep the dream alive. I'd love to know about your next production (we have enough Chandlers in this world :) ) I'm waiting to hear... Anyway, if you couldn't tell..it was a magical night for me. I couldn't stop smiling! Until next year?....

[Susan Wright]

Saturday was a most magical experience. Few events in my life can even come close to that wonderful event. To sing one of my most favorite pieces and sing it with old friends and family, made it all so wonderful. Bud was in his glory and I cannot think of a better legacy to leave in the hearts of his students.
I am looking forward to next year. We have a year to spread the word and fill that church. My only complaint was that it was too short, I didn't want to stop singing! Thank you, everyone for having the inspiration to put it all together.
Susan Wright class of '68

[Valerie (Peel) McSwain]

It was truly wonderful to be singing the Messiah again. Even though I KNOW I boobooed a few times, I had Rila Yang behind me to put me back on track. Thanks, Rila!

I was glad that the weather held out on Saturday for those of us that made a long journey to be a part of this past weekend. NOW, the next day was a whole different story.

To those of you that didn't make it.....it was a good time had by all and you really should try to be there next year, if your schedule permits.

Hats off to the planners and the teachers that thought about having the sing-in and going through with it.

Please feel free to e-mail me at yankdud@bellsouth.net.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Valerie '81

[Theresa (Terri) Aperawic-Sanschagrin]

It was a wonderful experience to be singing this piece again! Thanks to all who helped coordinate the event.
Having lived life a little, the meaning of the words, Handel's work, and the music are more powerful and appreciated today!

Bud, your passion continues! Thank you!!!
All my former classmates...Wonderful to see you all.

Merry Christmas!
Terri Aperawic-Sanschagrin
Class of '80

[Heidi Sarver , Class of '82]

I am so very sorry I missed the event...but I'm hoping 2008 will be a possibility.

UD made the championship football game and yes I took 300+ college band members to Chattanooga, TN this weekend. The game was atrocious--the band was FANTASTIC! But in my heart I wanted to be in NJ with all of YOU!!!

May the New Year be joyful and prosperous for everyone--and Mr. Beavers: keep at it my friend! You and Mr. Goff are two of the reasons I am where I am and still loving every minute of it!

[Terry Roff]

I had a great time last night at the sing-in. Thank you, thank you, thank you all who were involved in getting this together. Your efforts were well appreciated by me and I'm sure by others too. I was surprised to see so many "old" people there (yeah, ok, so I'm old too!). Your faces are still the same though. I was very delighted to see so many of my "sing mates". And Mr. Beavers, you still rock! I can't wait for next year, December 20th. I'm bringing Chris Bisceglia (Tompkins) with me!!! This was the best!! Thanks again,
Terry (Casey) Roff---Roxbury 1975

[Jeff Evans]

Thanks so much, Bud, Bill, Lynne and all of your team for your efforts in bringing about this great event! I've sung Messiah a fair number of times but never in the context of a "sing-in", so I'm really psyched! Sure beats going into NYC to do it!

Christmas Blessings to All,
Jeff Evans
Dover NJ
Mt. Fern UMC, Randolph

[Laura Dohrmann class of 83]

I am coming from San Francisco via Mumbai (Bombay) India where I have recently been working. I am dragging my Jersey sisters with me... class of 85 and 89 respectively. We never sang the Messiah together so that will be cool and yes, I still have my score as well.... of all the things that have gone by the wayside, could never bear to part with it. Travel safe all and BIG thanks to the coordinators! LSD

[John Matrodimos]

Hello all!
I've been looking forward to this for months and wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm there!!!

[Judy Marcussen]

I regret to say that I will not be able to attend as I already had previous plans. I am very dissapointed that I will miss this opportunity to sing with you all again. I sure hope you post some of the performances on the web site.
Judy Marcussen Class of 78

[Tom Olsheski]

Hello all from Scranton, PA. Imagine my surprise when I received a call from a family member that had received the mailing about this Messiah reunion. I hit the website as soon as I got the address. Although I will be unable to attend this year please keep me in mind for the next future events. It would be great to see everyone again and catch up on days gone by and renewing old friendships. Mr. B, great to hear you still remember the RHS crew. Last I heard you were at Vorhees doing the principal thing. BTW, I’m still waiting on my Gold Cup for winning the 1st Annual Choir Road Rally back in ’79. Feel free to contact me at tom@musclemagnepa.com Tom Olsheski - Class of '80

[M. Rowe]

I'm a Newton High School graduate, class of 1974,and as a chorus member, we always sang The Messiah at Christmas. It was a tradition until the music director, Mr. Eaton, left. I have been looking for an event such as yours and I am so happy I found it.

[Lizz Cushing '80]

Looking forward with much anticipation to singing again with you, Mr. Bevers, and the rest of the talented field! I have my original score (one of my treasured keepsakes that made it through several moves from NJ to FL and back again!!) Am excited to see some of the names of those of you who will be there on the 15th, ie, Sandy B.

Safe travels everyone!