By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
Louis Kruh, the council co-president, said the 40-year-old brotherhood's mission is "to encourage understanding and harmony in the community." The concert, with choral groups from throughout the Merricks, illustrated that mission well.
Brotherhood Council co-President Anne Burke gave a brief, non-denominational invocation.
Then the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church choir, under the direction of Donald Johnson, performed "All Good Gifts" and "We are Surrounded."
The Merrick Chorale, under the direction of Richard Gilley, sang
"Freedom," "What a Wonderful World" and "Ain't That Good News."
The Methodist choir performed "O Give Thanks" and "Hand Me Down My Sliver Trumpet."
The Cure of Ars Roman Catholic Church choir, under the direction of James Murano, performed "Farewell Anthem with Sevenfold
Amen" and "Deep Down I know."
The Calhoun High School Choir, under the direction of Sanford Sardo, sang two selections unaccompanied, "Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord," with soloists Jared Buchbinder and Eric King, and "Carol of the Bells." Accompanied, they performed "Candle on the Water" and "True Colors," with soloists Brandon Epstein and Eva Santacapita. The audience rewarded the 65 talented young men and women of the Calhoun choir with a standing ovation.
The Kennedy choir, under the direction of Jeanette Pincus,
sang "Baby It's Cold Outside" and "Ave Maria."
The Calhoun show choir, also under Sardo's direction, appeared in stunning costumes as the concert's final act. The young women wore shimmering, silver dresses, and the young men donned deep-blue, satin shirts and ties with black slacks. They sang and danced to "Dancing on the Ceiling," "Unchained Melody" and "Footloose." They, too, earned a standing ovation.
In closing, all who attended sang "America the Beautifulâ" and Bernard Stein, a former Merrick Kiwanis Club past president, offered the benediction.
Stein quoted from the late Martin Luther King Jr. and said simply, "We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools."
