There’s something about Christmas carols that brings out the best holiday spirit. That spirit becomes even more intensified when children are singing the carols.
And when it’s a choir of children combining forces to form one angelic sound of Christmas joy, the result is awe-inspiring and breathtaking.
Piero Romano knows that feeling all too well. The long-time music teacher in the Weehawken school system has orchestrated the Weehawken Elementary School Glee Club for students in fifth and sixth grade who perform at various venues throughout the township during the month-long holiday season.
The 50-member Glee Club will begin its musical journey through town Sunday evening (Dec. 2) at 7 p.m., when the children will sing a variety of carols at the township’s annual Christmas tree lighting outside of Town Hall on Park Avenue.
"It’s the official kickoff of the holiday season in town," Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. "We feature the Glee Club every year, because they are a lot of fun and gets everyone to join in the activity. It really enhances the small-town atmosphere that we have in Weehawken and proves that we have a close-knit community."
But the choir of little angels won’t stop there. They will also perform aboard the Spirit cruise line on Dec. 11, give two concerts for the senior citizens at both 525 Gregory Ave. and the Senior Nutritional Center, and finish up the busy schedule with two assemblies in front of their parents, teachers and friends at Roosevelt School on Dec. 19.
It marks the 12th year that the Weehawken Elementary School Glee Club will perform throughout the township during the holiday season.
According to Romano, the students have to display an incredible amount of dedication to be a member of the Glee Club. It’s an extracurricular activity, and practice sessions are held before the school day begins, at 7:30 a.m., three days a week.
"It is difficult, not only for the students, but for the parents as well," Romano said. "It can get crazy in the morning trying to get the students to school before the buses are able to pick them up."
Romano first asks for volunteers to participate in the Glee Club and usually receives interest from approximately 100 prospective singers. However, when the early morning rehearsal schedule begins in late October, the students start to weed themselves out and only the dedicated survive.
Like sixth grader Gabriel Agostini.
"It takes a lot of dedication," Agostini said. "You have to get to school by 7:30 and be ready to sing. I wanted to do it, because I like singing and I thought it would be fun. But it wasn’t easy to keep up with the schedule."
Parents are asked to sign permission slips in order to allow the students to participate in the program.
Romano said that the kids have a tough time at first, learning to sing at the same time and in the same key.
"But after a while, I find out that I have a lot of really nice voices," Romano said. "They’re really talented. They might have been a little shy when they started out, but then they get in a group and they all start to do so well. There really isn’t a lot of time to get ready for the first performance at the tree lighting, so we have to do a lot of work in a short time."
Romano said that the students practice at least 10 Christmas standards that they probably have been singing since they were toddlers, although never in front of such extensive and attentive audiences.
"It’s really nice, light music with the children’s voices," Romano said. "And they encourage everyone to sing along with them, so it really helps to bring out the best spirit. You find things in Christmas carols that you don’t find in anything else. It really inspires you."
The children all understand the importance they play within the community.
"We want to be able to make people feel good," said fifth grader Eric Petrie. "Maybe some of them lost someone in the World Trade Center tragedy. If we’re able to make them feel better during Christmas, then it makes me feel good. My brothers were part of the Glee Club before me and they told me that they had a good time. And I like to sing."
Fellow fifth grader Pilar Romano (no relation to the teacher) aspires to be a performer some day, so performing in the Glee Club represents a head start toward her future.
"It’s natural for me, because I want to be a performer," Pilar Romano said. "Getting up early wasn’t too hard for me, because I wanted to be here. I know that it helps everyone get in the Christmas spirit, especially the senior citizens, because a lot of them have no one to give them spirit. If we can cheer them up for Christmas, then we’re doing a good job."
All of the students said that performing with the Glee Club gets them more prepared for Christmas, an event they all look forward to.
"I just want everyone to feel good and feel happy during the holidays," Gabriel Agostini said. "Especially this year."
Pictured: Members of the Weehawken Elementary School Glee Club prepare for their first performance, which will be at tonight’s Christmas Tree lighting at Town Hall at 7 p.m. Back row, from left, are: Nicole Carpluk, Kevin Hegarty, Joseph Annese, Eric Petrie, Jeremy Abreu, and Camila Goday. Front row from left, are: Gabriel Agostini, Christopher Dorman, Victoria Caro, Pilar Romano, Linet Beras and Vicky Camporeale.