The inaugural North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony choir made its debut on May 25 at a community potluck, performing in diverse styles and featuring multiple soloists. Opening with the traditional song, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” the group continued to honor classic American music with a rendition of “Side By Side” that showcased Carol Egen on kazoo and Michael Hertz on kazoo and jug. Leonard Cohen’s beautiful ballad, “Hallelujah,” featured solos by G. Martin Green and Essie Neff, followed by the swinging jazz standard, “Fly Me to the Moon,” sung by powerhouse Darrell Pugh. Carol Egen’s captivating performance of “Who Can I Turn To” earned rapt applause, and the choir responded with an a cappella presentation of the sacred song, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” Latin for ‘grant us peace.’ To conclude the program, choir director Angela Vicente invited everyone in the room to join in singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the final notes resounding gloriously amongst the entirety of those gathered therein.
~ Sara Debevec, Program Director
