Mendham, Chester Teens Perform With RockNRoll Chorus

MENDHAM, NJ — The New Jersey-based RockNRoll Chorus has gotten back to recording and even a few performances this summer, two of its members from Mendham and two from Chester.

Having toured nationwide in its pre-COVID days with their Creative Director Joe Cantaffa leading the group of teens - who performed as opening acts with artists like Foreigner, Jefferson Airplane, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, The Chieftains and others, the young and professional performers sing a capella, rock and roll favorites - with their voices only performing the music - and even debuted a new music video this summer.

“Rock and Roll Band,” featured in the video, is just one of the songs that the group of teens sings in their lineup, with practices outside of their usual school activities, Cantaffa himself a school teacher.

He worked with them in the pandemic on the RockNRoll Chorus’ seventh full-length studio album, which is streaming with hits like “Go Your Own Way,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.”

The group has additionally had a performance within the past week at the Seaside Heights Boardwalk.

Cantaffa told Patch that during the pandemic, the group of teenagers, who end up becoming alumni once they enter college, practiced virtually.

One of the exciting aspects of being a part of the RockNRoll Chorus for Sarah Staples, one of the group’s close to 30 members who spoke to Patch about her experiences with the chorus, was getting to meet her fellow singers in person.

Staples, who is 17 and entering her senior year at West Mendham Morris High School, had heard about the program when Cantaffa visited her school to talk to students about the possibilities of joining the RockNRoll Chorus. She auditioned in Oct. 2020.

Though Staples ended up knowing some of her fellow members from high school, with one other from Mendham and two from Chester, she said the group has given her the opportunity to meet students her age from throughout the state that she wouldn’t normally meet, who also have an interest in musical performance.

Cantaffa said RockNRoll Chorus singers this year, in addition to Chester and Mendham, come from Burlington, Middletown, Glen Rock, Hazlet, Freehold, Keyport, Howell, Morganville, Randolph, Holmdel, Dayton, Manalapan, Sparta, Lawrenceville and Colts Neck.

“The people are so amazing, so kind,” said Staples of the other singers she’s met.

The teen performers, Cantaffa said, do their performances without compensation; and get involved in the RockNRoll Chorus because they either want to pursue the arts professionally or simply would like to be a part of it because of their interests. He has had RockNRoll Chorus alumni move on into the industry who have pursued professional careers as musical performers.

“I’m certainly proud of them all,” Cantaffa said about the teen singers, whatever direction they choose to follow.

Staples is one of the teens who has had music and theater endeavors in her heart since she became involved in middle school musicals. The RockNRoll Chorus has been the first time she’s performed a cappella and has done studio recordings.

At West Mendham Morris, Staples has been involved with drama and musical theater; and plans to stay involved with the RockNRoll Chorus through her senior year. She is a member of the high school’s marching band and color guard and works on set construction for the school’s plays.

As she wraps up her senior year of high school, Staples said she’s applying to colleges in Colorado, New York and California to pursue Mechanical Engineering, this one of her other talents she applies to her musical interests, by building sets for her high school performances.

The RockNRoll Chorus’ next upcoming shows will be on Friday, Aug. 27 at The Funplex in Mount Laurel at 5:30 p.m. and on Aug. 28 at the Cherry Hill Mall at 1 p.m. Click here for performances and here for more information and the website for the RockNRoll Chorus.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.