West Essex Singers Excited to Perform in All-State Choirs

seniors Nicole Pigott and Gina Morello have grown up on stage singing together, beginning at the Lester C. Noecker School in Roseland.

This week, the students have the distinction of representing West Essex in two different All-State choral groups. Nicole spent a few days rehearsing and performing with the New Jersey All-State Mixed Chorus in Atlantic City during the annual teacher’s convention. The group will take the stage later in November at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Gina will represent West Essex in the New Jersey All-State Women’s Chorus in February and perform on stage at NJPAC.

“This is incredible,” Nicole said in an interview about her chance to perform with the All-State Mixed Chorus. “I know Atlantic City will be mind-blowing."

Nicole said she was thrilled to be selected for the group after auditioning for it for the past several years and is looking forward to celebrating her birthday in rehearsals with the group. The students spent three days in intensive rehearsals before performing a concert for parents and teachers Friday.

The singers attribute their selection for All-State to a result of many years of hard work as well as the “great music program and teachers at West Essex.”

Nicole plans to study music education in college, while Gina hopes to study musical theater with a minor in music education.

The level of the music is higher than Nicole or Gina has previously performed, they said. Gina said she is learning songs in Latin and Italian, as well as a few gospel pieces. “It really opens your eyes to music from other cultures,” Nicole said.

Both girls have attended weekend rehearsals at Edison High School.

The singers said they are also enjoying working with professional conductors. “We are learning different warm-ups,” Gina said.

Nicole said she is thrilled to work with a renowned choral director from Ithaca College in New York, whom she will not meet until the convention.

Gina said she is particularly enjoying “working with a group of people who love music as much as I do.”

Nicole and Gina will showcase their talent by performing a duet at the West Essex Regional Board of Education meeting Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Nicole, who takes voice lessons with Lynn Dolce in Rahway, also regularly performs at several area churches.