The COVID pandemic forced us to get creative about rehearsing and performing in Spring 2020. We began to rehearse over Zoom and created concerts by splicing together individual videos we each made on our smart phones.
In 2022 we rehearsed and performed together in person again. People across the country had come to look forward to our concert videos, so we continued by recording our live concerts.
We are grateful to the Teaneck High School faculty and students for their technical support, and to Take-One Video Productions for their live recording and editing. Enjoy!
Spring Concert 2024: A Place at the Table
“Teaneck Community Chorus celebrates 25 seasons of inclusivity, diversity with concert” This was a headline on northjersey.com. The article goes on to write: “The Teaneck Community Chorus will continue its message of inclusivity by serving up an international menu of food-themed songs at its 25th anniversary “A Place at the Table” concert…”
When we share food, we share a bit of each other in delicious ways. It’s the same with music. This concert celebrated food and music from many different traditions knowing the joy of bringing us together through food we love.
The audience enjoyed it. We hope you will too.
For the full article about the concert, the chorus mission, and passing the baton between Artistic Directors, click here.
“Shoo Fly Pie”
This song is a delight, both lyrically and musically! It is a Dina Shore hit from the 1940s celebrating two old-fashioned desserts. Shoo Fly Pie is a molasses-based pie from the Pennsylvania Dutch. Apple Pan Dowdy is a biscuit based apple pie made in the pan. Yum.
“If Music Be the Food of Love”
There’s so much beauty in poetry, composers have adapted it for song since humans learned to sing. This is a gorgeous musical adaptation from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: “If music be the food of love, sing on… sing on…sing on ‘till I am filled with joy…” Directed by our new Artistic Director, Teresa-Marie Gotanco.
“Abbondanza!” (from The Most Happy Fella)
Abundance helps us all feel happy, especially with food! You’ll see the chorus had lots of fun with signs illustrating the Italian lyrics for fruit, cake, cheese, and also flowers, gifts, even fans because it’s warm in the kitchen. And it’s all done with a bit of Italian elegance.
“A Place at the Table”
Written by Teaneck’s Loren Daniels in 2002, this has become our theme song. With Gospel, Jazz, and Folk musical influences, A Place at the Table celebrates the joy of sharing, working together, and saving a place for others in hope and harmony. It is fitting that our retiring Artistic Director for 25 seasons, Steven Bell, directs A Place at the Table one last time. Loren accompanies. All past chorus members in the audience came up to sing.
Winter Concert January 2024: Good Causes! Good Songs!
In this our 25th Anniversary Winter Concert, “Good Causes! Good Songs!” we sing to inspire, uplift and grow understanding across our beloved community and country.
Twenty-five years of our favorite songs bring inspiration to important causes. What’s more, the
music of the world is music of Teaneck, so we sing in Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish, and
Arabic as well as English. Beauty is clear whatever the language!
Check out some of our favorite concert “singles” or watch the full concert. Enjoy!
“Before Too Long”
A powerful poem set to music, with soloist Azaria Best, Teaneck Teen Idol 2024 Top 3.
“Give Us Hope”
An upbeat melody with children’s lyrics imploring adults to meet a vital need.
“Tear Them Down”
A song that inspires us to create and keep our sense of community.
“Seasons Of Love”
It can’t be said or sung enough, “Remember the Love.”
The Full Concert “Good Causes! Good Songs!” with ASL (American Sign Language) assist.>>>> Download the program and song notes here
Winter Concert January 2023: You Don’t Own Me
In the wave of girl groups of 1963, Leslie Gore, a teenager from Tenafly, experienced the emerging sense of feminist power as she sang the pop hit, “You Don’t Own Me.” Little did she know that song would become an anthem for women’s empowerment and the theme of our 2023 winter program.
In this memorable concert, Teaneck Community Chorus members raise our voices in the Suffragettes’ anthem insisting on voting rights; and Abigail Adams letter to John and his fellow politicians in Remember The Ladies; in the powerful and beautiful poetry of Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson transformed in song; and more beautiful music that thrills as it reaches for freedom.
As a chorus in concert with our community, We Rise Again in search of and in celebration of the elusive goal of equality.
This concert is dedicated to YWCA Northern New Jersey to whom Teaneck Community Chorus will give 10% of all video concert proceeds.
This YWCA is an amazing organization dedicated to eliminating racism, promoting racial understanding, and advancing gender equity – missions we have in common with them. When you watch the concert video, please consider donating to the chorus knowing that you will be suppporting TWO great causes: Teaneck Community Chorus and YWCA Northern New Jersey.
>>> Download the concert program here.
Spring Concert June 2022: The Rain is Over and Gone
Covid has put us all through a journey that includes great loss and a wide variety of uncertain recoveries. Fortunately, music translates our human feelings into beauty that reaches deep into our hearts to heal and inspire. Dedicated to Teaneck’s first responders and Perry Rosenstein, this concert was a moving journey which left the audience uplifted.
This concert is dedicated to:
Teaneck First Responders, including
The Teaneck Ambulance Corps
The Staff of Holy Name
The Teaneck Police and Fire Departments
– and –
Perry Rosenstein, our benefactor and founder of the Puffin Foundation, who was lost to Covid along with countless others. We are grateful that his wife Gladys Miller-Rosenstein, the family and staff of the Puffin Foundation continue their important work for art, community, and social activism.
» Download a copy of the program.
Winter Concert January 2022: You Gotta Have Hope
With Omicron running rampant outside, we were not yet able to get back to a sense of normal life. There always seemed to be an asterisk. But through all of the gray and hazy days, TCC believes that one day things will be better. Not only that, but that day is just around the corner! We thought that now was the time to begin celebrating life again, and what better way to do that than with Broadway?
This concert is filled with familiar songs from shows that we all love. How many remember singing Corner of the Sky? And who cannot help smiling when you hear Everything’s Coming Up Roses? Come sing and smile with us as we celebrate Broadway, life and moving towards “normal.” You Gotta Have Hope, through these trying times!
» Download the program notes
Spring Concert June 2021: The Arc of Justice
The Arc of Justice bends towards freedom… but sometimes it takes too long. This concert reflects the experience and dreams of the African American community, but the call for peace, justice and equality crosses all superficial boundaries of color and race, and goes straight to the heart of every man or woman’s desire for freedom. In collaboration with special guests, Reggie Bennett and the Garden State Choral Chapter, the concert moves through over 100 years of music, including new interpretations of traditional songs, and compositions and lyrics that reflect today’s BLM movement.
» Download the concert program
Winter Concert January 2021: Bagpipes, Banjos and Songs
Enjoy this musical journey spanning the Atlantic. Songs of Ireland and Scotland travel on immigrant memories to the hills of Appalachia, where music was influenced by African banjos.
» Download the concert program
TCCs virtual concert is fabulous – great music sung by beautiful voices with visuals are that are varied and interesting. Thanks!
— Susie, Brooklyn, NY
It was a treat to listen to wonderful voices and to learn where the music originated. Loved it.
— Sharon, Southfield, MI
Prior to January 2021 …. no videos, but we have CD’s!
To inquire about a CD of a past concert, send an email to concerts@teaneckcommunitychorus.org.