Basking Ridge's Notables Singers Award Scholarships

The Basking Ridge-based Notables Singers have awarded the non-profit singing group's 2013 Notables Singers Scholarships to two New Jersey high school seniors – Michele Currenti, from Mountain Lakes High School, and Andrew Moore, from Point Pleasant Borough High School.

The two received their awards at the end of June at Ridge Oak Senior Housing in Basking Ridge, in conjunction with Notables’ performance for the residents, according to a release from Notables.

“It is such a pleasure — for the fifth year now — to present our annual scholarships and this year to these two very talented young people,” said Ellen Heffes, of Basking Ridge, founder and director of Notables.

Weekly rehearsals held at Ridge Oak Senior Housing in Basking Ridge

“We are grateful to the community for supporting our work to help raise funds to allow the presentation of the awards again this year and expect our program to grow,” Heffes said. She added that Notables presents the awards at Ridge Oak since the singers rehearse each week from September to June in the community room at the senior housing development in Basking Ridge.

Both scholarship recipients plan to continue their musical studies in college this September. Currenti will be attending the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., and Moore has been accepted at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Currenti said she wants to use her talent and drive to study at a conservatory, join an opera company and travel the world, according to the release. Moore plans to use his talent and knowledge to bring music into the lives of students and inspire them, the release said.

The two students were selected from entries submitted by high school students in Morris, Somerset, Ocean and Union counties. Applicants were asked to submit CDs that demonstrated their vocal talent, as well as to submit recommendations from individuals familiar with their abilities. Semi-finalists were then invited to attend in-person auditions.

Barbara Cornelia, of Mt. Arlington, Notables’ music director, says she is so pleased with the applicants. She added, "Each year the talent gets better and better and our selections become more and more difficult."

Loretta Zupa, of Morristown, Notables’ board member and chair of the scholarship committee, says, “Both of our winners are exceptional, young musicians who bring a deep appreciation and devotion to classical music. Their futures are very bright.”

Other members of Notables’ scholarship committee include Alberta Hornyak, of Basking Ridge; Barbara Pinto, Basking Ridge; and Roberta Smith, Notables’ piano accompanist, of Plainfield.

Currenti said, “Music has become an enormous part of who I am and I believe that pursuing music will allow me to develop into a strong adult and lead a fulfilled life.” Dr. Charles A. Sundquist, director, Choral Department, AP Music Theory at Mountain Lakes High School, says in describing Currenti: “Her musicianship is unmatched at our school."

“I couldn’t live my life any other way than having music as my center,” Moore said. "Ever since I was little, I was always involved in some sort of music-related activity.” Terry M. Bojanowski, choral director at Point Pleasant High School, says, “Andrew is a caring, thoughtful, motivated young man who is eager to learn as well as to teach others.”

The group, which was formed in 2004, is comprised of about 15 women who perform at a variety of venues in the Basking Ridge area and elsewhere, primarily in central New Jersey.

Notables Singers, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization comprised of volunteer singers who perform "America’s Favorite Music" in sounds in Broadway, jazz and pop. Information on the Notables website is available on the scholarship program, bookings and group and performance schedules.

The group continues to actively seek additional singers, so women with some vocal ability and interest are invited to contact Notables at 973-216-4911.