Union City Board of Education Trustee Kennedy Ng, a-k-a Enyi-K, the piano musical artist and his musical trio, was born in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. His father, Manuel who was from Canton, China is now deceased, and his mother Caridad, from the Dominican Republic, is now living in Union City.
Raised in Union City, Mr. Ng achieved his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1987, and a master’s degree in music education, in 1990, both at New Jersey City University in Jersey City. For the past 27-years, Mr. Ng has been the founder of the Kennedy Music School and Recording Studio in Union City, and became a member of the Union City Board of Education as a trustee in 2005.
Mr. Ng is married to his lovely wife Mayerlin, who was also born in Santo Domingo and raised in Union City, and who has also achieved a bachelor’s degree in business administration from New Jersey City University. Together they are co-owners of their musical school in Union City, and she is an employee for the Union City Board of Education in the Business Administrator’s Office of Anthony Dragona since 2004.
Mr. Ng has been a commissioner on the Hudson County Planning Board since 2006, and is presently a member of the New Jersey School Boards Association. Musically speaking, Mr. Ng has appeared as a pianist on Santo Domingo Television, and has also promoted his music on Santo Domingo Radio there! He proudly states that he will be conducting the Dominican Republic Symphony Orchestra in Santo Domingo this coming June, 2010! He also proudly states that he has been the musical director of the Union City Orchestra since 2005, and has also performed at various events throughout Union City! Mr. Ng as Enyi-K, as a pianist, conductor, and composer, is highly known for his great Latin, jazz, and classical music, and has played and recorded with many world famous singers and musicians.
Mr. Ng lists some of his main influences as Michael Camilo and Chick Corea. Mr. Ng also touts his loving mother in his love of music, as she registered him in the public elementary school in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, as a child. To the age of 17, he was playing with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of the Dominican Republic. He studied for nine years at the National Conservatory where such artists like Michael Camilo and Juan Luis Guerra also studied. Thus, his loving mother had a huge impact on his love of music. From there he got to enjoy the Big Band Era music of Glen Miller and George Taveras, who is a well know Latin and Jazz Dominican pianist! Mr. Ng also has performed at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan and at The White House in 1981 for the Cuban Independence Day ceremony! Mr. Ng has also performed with such famous Latin singers and Musicians like Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Johnny Ventura, and Iris Chacon, to name but a few! Locally, he was asked to be the “first” to perform at the Union City High School Performing Arts Center, which was an honor for him as a school board trustee!
However, after all of this wonderful music activity, Mr. Ng tells us that for leisure time, that he is a New York Yankees and New York Knicks fan! Mr. Kennedy Ng; All the best!!! …
United States Army National Guard Private Alexandro A. Diaz, has completed the Warrior Transition Course at Fort Sill, in Lawton, Okla. Private Diaz is the son of Alejandro and Evelyn Diaz of Guttenberg. Congratulations Private Diaz! …
West New York Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Van Zanten and Town Mayoral Aide Neil Carroll were both reappointed to the Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of Education by Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise of Jersey City to three-year terms recently. By the way, Guttenberg’s Athletic Living Legend Brian Guaschino of Guttenberg tells us that Dr. Van Zanten was WNY Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega’s Memorial High School Track Coach years ago. Time goes by so quickly! …
Retired Pizzaiolo Angelo Filippone, former owner of Angelo’s Pizzeria in Weehawken, and also in West New York, now has his son following in his footsteps, as apprentice Piero Filippone has opened his own pizza shop, called Bella Italia Pizzeria in Union City, at Bergenline Avenue and 21st Street. Best of luck!…
North Bergen’s Joseph “Cha-Cha” Santiago, has called it a wrap, as he has retired as an employee of the Hudson County Schools of Technology recently. When asked what he will be doing in retirement, he said that he will find something to take-up his time. Best wishes Joe Santiago! …
Hudson County’s Best Kept Secret, none other than Roseann Fischer of Secaucus, who is also the Hudson County Superintendent of Weights and Measures, is now wearing another hat! Ms. Fischer has been elected to the non-salaried position of Commissioner of the Hudson County Pension Board, where she will be a good advocate for county workers and also pensioners! The county Weights and Measures Department comes under the aegis of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office run by Sheriff Juan Perez of Bayonne. By the way, Ms. Fischer is also very active with the William J. Wolfe Association of the Jersey City Heights, whose local sponsor there is William Gaughan the Ward Councilman, and who is also Chief of Staff in the Hudson County Executive’s Office. Thus, Commissioner/Superintendent Roseann Fischer associates with good company. Roseann Fischer. What a gal! …
And so it goes …until next time …see you around town …“Matt” …
Readers who would like to contribute to this column can do so by mailing your news items and photographs, along with your name, address, and telephone number to: Matthew Amato, columnist, c/o The Hudson Reporter, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Thank you!
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