On Saturday, April 30, the Kenilworth Historical Society will present “Tunes for Tea,” an elegant afternoon Tea and musical program featuring a selection of popular, nostalgic 1920s-1940s era tunes sung a cappella, in four-part, barbershop-style harmony. The enlightening and entertaining program will be presented by the Shore to Please Quartet, a group of four female singers from the award-winning Heart of New Jersey Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. In addition to their musical performance, members of the quartet will review the fascinating history of barbershop-style music and will demonstrate the composition and essential balance of its four-part harmony.
The Tea will begin at noon at the Kenilworth Gospel Chapel hall, 557 Newark Avenue, Kenilworth, where the ambience of a lovely tearoom and charming old-fashioned sweet shop is being created for the event. In addition to offering an array of assorted teas, tea sandwiches, scones and desserts, the event will include a gift auction and door prizes. Admission is $28. Advance reservations (by April 22) are required, as seating is limited. For reservations/tickets, please call 908-709-0434 or 908-709-0391 or visit Especially Yours Florist at 13 North 20th Street, Kenilworth.
Proceeds from the April 30th Tea will benefit the Kenilworth Historical Society’s Oswald J. Nitschke House (c. 1880) “living history” museum and cultural arts center by helping defray the cost of an elevator that makes all levels of the newly restored and furnished site fully accessible to everyone.
The Shore to Please Quartet comprises Tricia Zichello (bass), Vicki Warnock (lead), Chesla Wechsler (baritone) and Karen Pearson (tenor), all of whom are accomplished vocalists and longstanding members of the Heart of New Jersey Chorus, based in Millstone Township, N.J. The Shore to Please Quartet is officially registered with Sweet Adelines International and has performed extensively throughout New Jersey since its public debut in 2012.
The Heart of New Jersey Chorus, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, is composed of female vocalists who perform in the barbershop style; i.e., four-part harmony sung a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment). The chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a highly respected worldwide, independent, non-profit organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education, competition and performance. Founded in 1945, Sweet Adelines International is among the world’s largest singing organizations for women, boasting nearly 24,000 members. Barbershop music, which developed in the late 19th century, is a style of a cappella singing based on four-part harmony achieved by a lead, tenor, bass and baritone.
The Kenilworth Gospel Chapel is an independent community Bible church with a congregation of approximately 165 adults and children. The chapel was constructed in 1936 by a number of chapel members, including the family of local pioneer James Arthur, who built many homes in the area in the late 19th/early 20th centuries and founded the New Orange Park project.
(above) The Shore to Please Quartet, comprising Tricia Zichello (bass), Vicki Warnock (lead), Chesla Wechsler (baritone) and Karen Pearson (tenor), all of whom are members of the Heart of New Jersey Chorus and Sweet Adelines International, will perform during the Kenilworth Historical Society’s April 30th afternoon Tea, themed “Tunes for Tea.”
