Basking Ridge Finalists In Far Hills Race National Anthem Contest

Last fall, soprano Marie Fosket of Basking Ridge opened the 90th annual Far Hills Race Meeting in Far Hills with her rendition of the National Anthem. This year, two more Basking Ridge singers are among this year's finalists to perform at the area's largest fundraising social event.

Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, which benefits from the races held each year at Moorland Farms off Route 202 in Far Hills, has announced 16 finalists for the third annual National Anthem Contest. The winner will sing before 50,000 spectators at the steeplechase horse races and social gathering on Oct. 22.

The contest among finalists will be held at Somerset Medical Center’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, which has received millions of dollars of funds from the annual horse race event. Finalists will participate in a special panel-judged vocal competition on Sept. 27 to ultimately determine the winner. The center was named in honor of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association. 

Last year, at the 2010 Race Meeting, based on her written application and her vocal rendition of the National Anthem as a contestant. Fosket was chosen from among 17 finalists to perform, and she sang in honor of her aunt Mary Reynolds, who died of cancer. 

According to the Somerset Medical Center, this year’s finalists include:

Basking Ridge

Catherine Kelly, 16, of Basking Ridge would dedicate her performance of the National Anthem at the Far Hills Race in honor of her choir conductor, whom she said created a new outlook in life for her and encourages her to do her best with everything she does. Kelly has participated in chorus and musicals.  

Rachel Goldman, 13, also of Basking Ridge, would dedicate her performance of the National Anthem to the memory of her great aunt who passed away from breast cancer, as well as her best friend who was in a car accident. Goldman has participates in her church’s choir and is a member of the New Jersey Youth Chorus.

Bedminster

Bedminsgter resident Tracey Sousa, 41, began singing at the age of 16 in rock-and-roll cover bands and in her church choir. Sousa said she has many fond childhood memories of attending the Far Hills Race Meeting with her mother, who sadly passed away from heart disease.  She will dedicate her performance of the National Anthem to her mother, while supporting Somerset Medical Center, which she said provided outstanding care for her mother during her illness.  

Belle Mead

Emily Herman, 16, of Belle Mead plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem at the Far Hills Race Meeting to her father who is a doctor at Somerset Medical Center. She said he always has supported her musical endeavors. Herman has been singing in choir since the second grade, and has been a member of the Princeton girls’ choir for the past seven years.

Bridgewater

Ananya Subramaniam, 14, of Bridgewater has been singing since she was five years old. Subramaniam said she plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem at the Far Hills Race Meeting to her aunt who recently passed away from cancer. She said she admired her aunt’s courage that she displayed throughout her battle with the disease.  

Charmie Mehta, 14, also of Bridgewater, would dedicate her performance of the National Anthem at the Far Hills Race Meeting in honor of her best friend’s mother, who is battling breast cancer. She said she also would dedicate her performance in honor of her best friend who keeps a positive outlook on life despite her mother’s condition. Mehta has participated in her school’s musical, chorus, and select choir. 

Kim Sekora, 44, of Bridgewater, has an extensive background in music, including singing in New York theatre productions, doing voice-overs, and singing in groups. Sekora will dedicate her performance of the National Anthem in memory of her mother who passed away from cancer. She said her mother always supported her singing career and gave up her time to help her pursue her dream.  

Far Hills

This is the second year that Allegra Campbell, 16, of Far Hills has been named a finalist in the Somerset Medical Center National Anthem Contest. Campbell’s musical experience includes singing at local games and events in the Peapack-Gladstone area.  Campbell would dedicate her performance of the National Anthem in honor of her aunt who she said that even while battling cancer continues to be a great role model to her daughter and nieces. Campbell said she feels it would be a great honor to sing at an event that her family has been attending for many years.

Florham Park

Rachel Johnson, 16, of Florham Park has been involved in music for several years. Johnson belongs to various theatre groups, takes piano and voice lessons, and sang God Bless America for the Staten Island Yankees. In addition, she has performed in her high school’s musicals. Johnson’s parents and grandparents have been attending the Far Hills Race Meeting for over 30 years and hold spot #1 as a great family tradition. She said she would dedicate her performance of the National Anthem in honor of her grandmother who passed away from cancer.

Frenchtown

Rachel Coburn, 25, of Frenchtown sang in choirs at both her school and church, and has an associate’s degree in music. Working at a cancer center, she sees firsthand what the patients and their families go through every day. She personally lost her grandmother to cancer, and her mother is a cancer survivor. Coburn plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem in honor of cancer patients and their families. 

Martinsville

June Lewis, 69, of Martinsville, said she has enjoyed singing all of her life and sang in the church choir and family weddings. Lewis has had various family members who suffered from cancer. Lewis plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem in honor of her family members who suffered from cancer and her husband and brother who both served in the United States Military.

New Vernon

Montana Janel Byrne, 12, of New Vernon participates in her church choir and has performed with the N.J. Youth Choir at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Byrne plans on dedicating her performance of the NationalAnthem to two of her role models, her music director who was diagnosed with lung cancer, and her father who was also diagnosed with cancer.

Plainfield 

Carl M. Santiago, 44, of Plainfield has been singing since the first grade. Santiago is currently the baritone section leader and soloist for an Episcopal church in North Plainfield. He plans on dedicating his performance of the National Anthem in memory of his grandparents who always supported his artistic endeavors. In addition, Santiago will dedicate his performance to his grandfather who passed away from spinal cancer. 

Ringoes

Debbie Manners Lentine, 62, of Ringoes enjoys singing at weddings and special events in Hunterdon County. While in college, she sang for the university choir. Lentine said she plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem in memory of her father and uncle, a Hunterdon County farmer who owned several thoroughbred race horses that raced at Far Hills years ago. Both men passed away from cancer. 

Riverdale

Leanne Weiss, 28, of Riverdale has been involved with singing since middle school. She has participated in many shows while growing up and had the lead role in her high school musical. Weiss said she plans on dedicating her performance of the National Anthem in memory of her grandfather who passed away from cancer and loved horse racing. 

Tamaqua, Pa.

Marjorie Fortin, 51, David Fortin, 26,and Tanya Erdman, 41, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania are a vocal trio known as I.C.E, In Christ Eternally.  Marjorie and her son David are originally from Bayonne, NJ and come from a musical family. I.C.E. performs for many different venues such as nursing homes, variety shows, churches, and even sang the National Anthem on a musical cruise in Pennsylvania. The group has been together for 11 years, and each member has lost a loved one to cancer.  The group plans on dedicating their performance in honor of those they have lost as well as pay a tribute to the many veterans they have come across and show that they aren’t forgotten with this undeniably patriotic song.

The competition requires each individual to complete an application and include a brief statement on why he or she would like to sing at the Far Hills Race Meeting. Judges in the Sept. 27 final competition will include Guy Torsilieri and John von Stade, co-chairmen of the Far Hills Race Meeting, Michael Tarentino, owner of Connie’s Music Center in Somerville and the official bugler for the Far Hills Race, Paul Grzella, general manager/editor of the Courier News and Home News Tribune, and Sharon Davis, weekend DJ for Magic 98.3 FM.

This year marks the 91st historic Far Hills Race Meeting, a well-known event of the fall season that combines displays of culinary skill, modern and traditional fashion, top thoroughbred jump racing and joyous camaraderie. Tens of thousands of attendees flock from nearby and other states to participate in a day of entertainment and sport, and to contribute to a worthy cause.

For the past 57 years, the Far Hills Race Meeting has raised money to support the programs and services of Somerset Medical Center, and to help ensure the residents of central New Jersey are afforded the quality healthcare. To date, The Far Hills Race Meeting has raised more than $17 million.

Additional information on the Far Hills Race Meeting is available online. Also, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FarHillsRaceMeeting.