Stardust Brings Holiday Cheer to CentraState Hospital

Sounds of holiday music and choir voices replaced typical hospital clatter yesterday as ’s choir performed throughout the Freehold . The choir, under the direction of Eisenhower music teacher Jessie Ryan, has performed at numerous locations throughout Freehold and Monmouth County for community service. 

Stardust is made up of 15 eighth grade girls. The group was selected at the end of the previous school year after auditions. In order to be eligible to audition, students had to be going into eighth grade, and taken chorus electives in sixth and seventh grade with Ryan. The selected group had class together the first marking period, where they practice songs and perfect their singing technique. The choir also met every Tuesday for two hours after school to continue practicing.

“The girls are very hard workers and great students,” said Ryan. “It’s a big time commitment on top of their other activities. Some girls are in advanced classes, rock bands, and the school play.”

The choir currently performs 12 songs, some of which are combinations of multiple songs. Their repertoire doesn’t only include holiday music, but also songs like “Smile” by Uncle Kracker and “Season of Love” from the musical Rent. 

“The goal of the choir is for us to do community service and for the girls to see what music can do for other people,” said Ryan. 

Despite the location of the performances in the hospital (whether it was in front of a speaker, in the main lobby or in a hallway near a nurses station) patients, staff members, and visitors gathered together to watch the choir sing. 

“It is important for the staff and patients who are away from their families to see these performances,” said Joan Nealson, Director of Volunteer and Guest Services at CentraState. “This is the best part of my job.”