Bell Oaks Chorale Perform at Radio City

After two long months of nervous waiting, the good news finally arrived.

The Bell Oaks Chorale in Bellmawr was selected to perform before the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City December 10.  Before the students could command the stage at Radio City, they had to commit to many practices, both before and after school.

Also, they had to maintain good grades and conduct and had to raise money for the trip.

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There are more than 60 students involved in chorale at Bell Oaks School, and each student was able to go to New York. That is because Chorale Director Philomena Ross is famous for saying, \”No one goes without.\”  To make sure no student was excluded, lots of candy was sold and a basket auction was held to help raise money, which not only paid for the bus and the tickets, but for the students’ attire and for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

On the day of the big show, the group was announced to Radio City’s audience as \”Bell Oaks Chorale from Bellmawr, New Jersey.\”  They sang and danced a capella, without music, to several choreographed songs.  It was thrilling for the chorale to be on stage before the Rockettes.

Seventh grader Danielle Gordon, 13, a chorale member for nearly four years, had never visited New York.  \”It was extremely exciting. I couldn’t stop talking about it. You had to see the stage. It was so big. You actually had to look up 50 feet to see the top! It was the chance of a lifetime,\” she said.  When asked if