In their own words: Morristown’s Got Talent! contestants handicap their chances

Compiled by Victoria Lin

We asked finalists in the 2012 Morristown’s Got Talent! show to tell us how they have been preparing for the Feb. 29 show… here’s what some of them said:

Oliver Cervantes

How have you been preparing for the talent show?

Practice. I guess it’s a little easier for me and Charlie compared to some of the bands that are performing since we have our own instruments right at home, with no set up required. We have also been meeting after school in the band room of the high school to run through the piece and pick out certain points that need work.

What has the experience been like thus far?

It has been very exciting. I’m looking forward to playing for the community and sharing even more music with others. But for one thing, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all these interviews and this media attention. It’s nice seeing myself in the paper or on articles online, but what I really look forward to is just the performance and the chance to share my musical talent with others – which is really what every musician should think.

Good luck charms?

Nothing in particular, although the instrument I’m going to perform with has been with me for a while. I brought it to three honor band auditions last year. Yes, keyboard percussionists lug their instruments to auditions all over the state. Sometimes it isn’t necessary, but most of the time it’s for the best. This year I brought my own marimba to all three auditions. And it’s probably over twice as massive as the xylophone I’ll be using.

Best advice you’ve heard?

Most of the people I come across wish me good luck. What I really want to hear is, “have fun.” I would much rather enjoy myself and miss a few notes than be nervous all the time and play it perfectly. And anyway, once people hear the piece, they would know that it’s pretty much impossible to hit all the right notes all the time.

Who’s coming?

Friends and family! I’ve performed a countless number of times. Just this past Saturday, I was even able to perform with Ben Burgess in the All-State Wind Ensemble at NJPAC. It was great. But Morristown’s Got Talent will definitely have the most people who I personally know in the audience.

 If you win the prize money?

I plan to treat it as a scholarship. Maybe put it towards college, but I will definitely spend it on something I value, like music or art.

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Danielle Becht

1. I have been preparing for the show by practicing with my voice coaches Darius and Mike, my dance teacher Miss Christin, and my new teacher Miss Cathy, who helps me remember to smile and sing to tell a story. Sometimes I let my mommy watch, but no one else.

2. I have been in the newspaper, on the front cover and that was exciting…I was also just interviewed for TV (Cablevision), but I was pretty nervous for that…I like to sing and dance and perform, but I don’t like to talk much;

3. I don’t have any good luck charms, but I will do the “special handshake” with my mommy for good luck;

4. The best advice I have received is to have lots of fun

5. My mommy, daddy, brother Bobby, and grandparents are all coming to cheer me on (my little brother Thomas is too young to come though). Also, some people from my school are coming, some of the teachers, and some of my friends and their mommies.

6. If I win the first place prize, Bobby, Thomas and I will get an ice cream from the Creamery, and I might buy each of us a Nintendo game. Mommy and Daddy said the rest will go in my account at the bank.

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Joey Gatto of Top Hat

1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?

Lots of practice in our sax player Sean’s garage.

2. What has the experience been like thus far?

Very good, first time our band is doing a big gig like this so its a brand new expierence

3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?

None, we don’t believe in that. We will just be prepared.

 4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?

To have fun because if we have fun, the crowd will also.

5. Who is coming to cheer for you?

All of our family and friends, hoping that they will all come in top hats!

6. What will you do with the victory money?

Split it among ourselves, not sure where it will exactly go, probably college money!

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Laura Rondinella:

1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?

I’ve been preparing with Jasmin Serrano for about two months now. We’ve held a few rehearsals, where the two of us brainstorm and come up with different performance ideas, before putting it all together.

2. What has the experience been like thus far?

The experience has been great! I was very pleasantly surprised to see the high level of interest that Morristown has in the arts. The recognition that the local talent gets is wonderful.

3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?

I carry around a coin that my mom gave me that says “follow your heart.”.It will be somewhere on my person during the performance, as it always is. I believe it keeps me focused on my dreams, which makes my performance stronger.

4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?

Just be who you are and breathe.

5. Who is coming to cheer for you?

My beautiful family and my teeny girl.

6. What will you do with the victory money?

Pay off my college debt!

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Carolina Alvarez

1. I have been working with my accompanist Skip Yingling. I had to change tempos from the CD recording I was using before to a now more slower tempo.

2. Splendid, everyone is really nice and easy to work with and the people in charge of MGT really care for all your needs, which makes you feel more easy about the process.

3. Ummm, I pray?

4. Just to not be nervous, and the room is going to be all black anyways so I don’t have to worry about seeing the audience.

5. My parents, my brother, my grandma from Poland, and my friends

6. Most of it would go to college and the small percentage left will go to by Christian Louboutin pumps.

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 Michael Pyo:

1. How have you been preparing for the talent show?

I have been practicing with my mommy every day, but she has been scheduling surprise practices so that I can get used to singing under pressure. My bedtime has been changed from 8:30 to 9:30 because I will be up later for the show.

 2. What has the experience been like thus far?

I have been enjoying the time singing with my mommy. I have also been getting a lot of attention from people in the neighborhood and at school.

 3. What good luck charms or special rituals will you be bringing to the theater?

I have a red, shiny crystal that is my good luck charm.

 4. What’s the best advice you have received for the show?

Enjoy yourself, and have fun. Keep going if you make a mistake.

5. Who is coming to cheer for you?

My family, my friends, my neighbors and my teachers.

6. What will you do with the victory money?

I will donate money to different charities that help poor children in Africa and Haiti. I will give some of the money to my brother (who gave me some money when he won), and then I will put some money away for my college fund.

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Captain Lung

1. We have been keeping up our normal practice routine of 1-2 practices a week.

2. The experience has been great, having people run up to you yelling “you’re in the show omg that’s awesome” gives you a really wonderful feeling.

3. We will be bringing an aboriginal rain dance to the show and doing it right before we go on to bring us luck.

4. No advice has been given.

5. All of our families and friends from the high school will be attending the event plus family friends.

6. The victory money will go into the band fund and help us pay for the making of an album.

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Timeless Jazz:

1. We have been preparing for the talent show by practicing weekly. We have put in around 2-3 hours per week of rehearsal time.

2. So far, the experience has been great. We have worked hard to get to where we are now and we plan on pushing ahead to deliver a stellar performance.

3. We will not be bringing any good luck charms or rituals to the show.

4. The best advise we have received for the show would be to just go out there and have fun. We did that our first year, and we plan on doing it again.

5. Our “cheering section” will be comprised of our families and friends, young and old, and everybody else who enjoys listening to Timeless Jazz.

6. We would split the money equally amongst ourselves like we did the first year.

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Hanna Neil:

1.) I have been preparing by singing for my friends and family, having my mom video tape me while singing, singing in front of the mirror, and also taking singing lessons!!

2.) The experience has been wonderful. Lots of my friends, including people at church, have come up to me regarding them getting tickets for the show, or just congratulating me. It’s really an honor to be part of this show.

3.) I am going to bring my Frankenstein Voodoo doll (which I bought in Texas), to the talent show.

4.) The best advice I have gotten in for the show is, “Make the song about you, not Adele herself.”

5.) My friends (of course), but also my dad’s clients, people from school, and adults from church are all coming to cheer me on… Even my teachers!!

6.) WHEN I win the victory money, I am going to buy myself some epic heels, and save the rest for college!!
COME BACK TO MORRISTOWN GREEN FOR COMPLETE SHOW COVERAGE!
MORE ABOUT MORRISTOWN’S GOT TALENT 2012

Davy Jones, R.I.P.

When three of the Monkees performed last spring in Morristown, we noted how the evening of feel-good nostalgia reminded us of our own mortality.

Sadly, news has come from Florida that Davy Jones has died of a heart attack at age 66.  The Baby Boomer generation has lost another piece of its collective youth.

Thanks for the memories, Davy.

 

 

 

Feeling hungry? More scenes from ‘Taste of Morristown’

Looking for dining ideas?  Check out these snaps from Monday’s Taste of Morristown soirée, courtesy of MorristownGreen.com correspondent Berit Ollestad.

It was the 10th anniversary of the event, a charity fundraiser organized by the Morristown Rotary. This was the second year that it was held at the Hanover Marriott.

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Musical March at the Presbyterian Church

The aim and final end of music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. –Johann Sebastian Bach

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent. –Victor Hugo

This Friday, the Fridays-on-the-Green concert series returns to the Presbyterian Church in Morristown with a performance by the instrumental group, FLUTATIOUS!. Fridays-on-the-Green is a music series held during the lunch hour on Fridays in March, May and October. The series, which is free and open to the public, features a wide variety of musicians from PCM, the New York metro area and around the world. Each performance is held in the Sanctuary from 12:00 to 12:35 p.m. Elegant lunches prepared by C’est Cheese are for sale in the back hall after each concert. This week’s performer, FLUTATIOUS!, is an upbeat ensemble of professional flutists who frequently perform in the New York-New Jersey area for a wide variety of events. The ensemble’s six members live up to their name by attracting and engaging their audiences in a highly enjoyable musical experience, drawing from an eclectic repertoire, including baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary, pop, and jazz selections. All are welcome to take a break from the rigors of the week and enjoy this free concert.

On Sunday, the Presbyterian Church in Morristown will feature Brian Harlow, an acclaimed organist, in its First Sundays concert series. The Director of Music at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Dr. Charity Wicks, has introduced a new concert series on the first Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the Church on the Green. This month’s free concert will be held in the March 4th at 4:00 pm. We hope you will join us as Brian presents classic works by Bach, Mozart, Pachelbel and others.

We welcome all to join us for these special events as well as our weekly services here at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown. To learn more about our church community and the fresh traditional perspective we offer on faith, please visit our website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Morristown council airs parade concerns

By Berit Ollestad

Next week’s St. Patrick’s Parade was a hot topic Tuesday at the Morristown council meeting. Council members asked questions about cleanup, outdoor alcohol permits, overtime costs, and the possibility of larger-than-usual crowds because Hoboken has canceled its parade.

Responding to concerns raised by Councilwoman Alison Deeb, Police Capt. Steve Sarinelli said the department will be ready for the March 10 event. Organizers of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade estimate that it has attracted 50,000 spectators to Morristown in prior years.

“Barricades will be in place, site plans are currently being worked on and we will be fully prepared the day of the event,” the captain said. “This is nothing new to us, we do it every year. Police Chief Demnitz wanted me to assure everyone that we will have a plan in place to adequately manage the crowds the day of the event.”

Thirteen people were arrested and 135 citations were issued last year for public urination, drinking in public, and disorderly behavior. Most of the incidents occurred in the hours after the parade, police reported.

Deeb also inquired about who would pick up trash after the parade.

The town public works department will start cleaning up after the event, said town Administrator Michael Rogers, adding that ample garbage cans will be placed around town to accommodate excess trash.

However, he said bars and restaurants will be held accountable for cleaning up the perimeter of their establishments.

Additionally, the administrator said outside agencies will help defray overtime costs for the town. Neighboring police agencies assist Morristown on parade day, and the parade committee also makes a donation to the town.

Deeb asked how police would handle any influx of spectators that might result from Hoboken’s cancellation.

“Chief Demnitz is an expert in maintaining crowd control,” said Mayor Tim Dougherty. “He has been requested in different parts of the country to share his expertise and speak on the topic of crowd control. We are fortunate to have him; especially for these events.”

The council approved parade-day permits for the Famished Frog, Grasshopper Off the Green, and George & Martha’s American Grill to serve alcohol outdoors in beer-garden type settings.

Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman  opposed those requests, asserting they were not in the best interest of the town or her constituents.

“This is supposed to be a family event and I know families that purposely don’t go because of the excessive drinking that occurs throughout town the day of the event,” said the councilwoman, the only Independent on the governing body.

Feldman also said the permits gave these bars an unfair advantage over others that lack the logistics for outdoor service.

In other business, Deeb, the council’s lone Republican, continued to press the administration to look more thoroughly at traffic congestion on Miller Road. She wants signs warning motorists not to block driveways, “an on-going problem” for residents.

“If someone is blocking someone’s driveway, then you need to tell them to call the police and have them towed,” the Mayor replied.

Police have not been responding to calls, according to Deeb. “It doesn’t seem to be a priority.”

“I want to know who is taking the call, and if someone is being sent out to respond to the complaint and they aren’t following up, I want to know who it is and I will address it,” the Mayor said.

A resignation has opened a vacancy on the board of the Morristown Housing Authority. Residents interested in filling the unexpired 18-month term should apply at town hall by March 8.

Councilwoman Raline Smith-Reid attended last week’s Black History Month celebration, hosted by the Morristown Neighborhood House at Morristown High School. The event celebrated contributions of African American women to American history and culture, and recognized achievements of Dr. Judy Banks, Helen Arnold, Jessica Ballew and the C.H.E.T.S. Inc. organization.

“It was a wonderful event and everyone had a great time,” Smith-Reid said.

 

‘Joe Mahoney’ goes nuclear, from Morristown cartoonist Matt Keown

This week’s Mahoney: Nukemon

UPDATE: Joe Mahoney is still in the running in the So You Think You Can Be A Cartoonist Contest! Morristown cartoonist Matt Keown needs your votes to win a slot at GoComics.com–and a shot at syndication! And don’t forget, Mahoniacs, you can read Joe Mahoney every day at JoeMahoneyComics.com

Please click to enlarge

Joe Mahoney is about a powerful and driven CEO struggling to groom his free-spirit son to someday take over the family business. Matt believes in Mahonifest Destiny, which is the view that all literate Americans from sea to shining sea should read Joe Mahoney every week. He brings this comic to MG with hopes of converting the good citizens of Morristown into Mahoniacs.

Morris Township comic John Mruz aims for short and sweet as emcee of Morristown’s Got Talent

The way amateur comedian John Mruz sees it, he doesn’t need to be brilliant on Wednesday as emcee of the fifth annual Morristown’s Got Talent! show.

“I feel like the audience is on my side… and besides, they’re not coming to see me. The only way I can fail is if I’m on stage too long!” jokes Mruz, 43.

Certainly, the 16 acts vying for the $1,000 top prize are primary reasons why the 1,200-seat Mayo Performing Arts Center sold out a week ago.

Great story lines abound: Timeless Jazz hopes to repeat its victory from five years ago. Pint-sized Michael Pyo aims to follow in his big brother’s winning footsteps. Danny Dones of Top Hat hopes his third try is the charm. Charlie Savage is hedging his bets by appearing with two acts. The eighth-grade rockers in Art of Play are riding high from a triumph at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater.

Wednesday’s lineup also includes the Pavarotti of piano tuners, Matthew Onigman, and the singing fishmonger, James Cutler from Kings Food Market. You can’t ignore lightning-fast xylophonist Oliver Cervantes or 8-year-old chanteuse Danielle Becht. And if the judges award bonus points for names, Captain Lung is a shoo-in.

The talent show raised $40,000 for the Morris Educational Foundation last year and appears on track to approach that figure again.

“It’s really, really going to be good,” promises MGT Chairperson Fran Rossoff,  who will be handling the announcing chores for the first time. “We feel a little more confident every year…this is a show that makes everybody happy.”

Determined to prove Fran right, John Mruz is not taking his comedy lightly.

The Mayo is the biggest room he’s played since venturing into standup three years ago– and the Morris Township resident has to live here after the show. Sons Mat, 11; Willy, 8; and Henry, 6, attend schools in the Morris District and 3-year-old Peter is not far behind. John’s mom will be watching on Wednesday, too.

So John has been polishing his routine for weeks, in New York clubs, with fellow comics, and especially, on Facebook and Twitter.

“If the joke is funny, I’ll get a lot of ‘Likes,’ and sometimes I’ll even get comments off the joke or they’ll refine the joke and I’ll use that to write the material, or to drill down even further into the material,” says John.

Facebook friends really “Liked” John’s marketing slogans after last year’s Irene- and Nor-easter power failures. Note to employees of Jersey Central Power & Light: You might want to stay in the lobby during the opening monologue.

One Facebook fave:

“JCP&L–leave the L off for Lights!”

John has five-minute sets in each half. The family humor comes after intermission. Ever mindful that we live in the age of YouTube, he avoids jokes that might embarrass the wife and kids.

“But my parents and friends, they are totally in-limits. We’re allowed to do that,” he says.

As a boy on Long Island, John appeared in school talent shows–blowing into a saxophone. He preferred the role of class clown, though “never to the point of disruption.

“It’s a passion. I always liked to make people laugh,” he says, explaining his mid-life foray into comedy. His wife Christine has indulged him–as long as he keeps his day job at a web marketing company. Which, he says, is a good source of material.

A video preview of the show:

Someday, John envisions returning to Morristown’s Got Talent! with a family act hatched at a highway rest stop, on the way home from a vacation.

“We form a Conga line five people deep and we head to the bathroom,” he says, “and we have a whole bunch of truckers dressed in Village People costumes singing Hot Hot Hot.”

Right now, however, he is focused on delivering a few punchy lines.

“My goal is to get people laughing a little bit, have them leave their cares at the curb…and then get off the stage and let the talent take over.”

COME BACK TO MORRISTOWN GREEN FOR COMPLETE SHOW COVERAGE!

MORE ABOUT MORRISTOWN’S GOT TALENT 2012

Morris County to pay $200K to blind employee who was hit by ex-assistant prosecutor’s car

Chrstina Brino, the longtime coordinator for the Morris County Office for the Disabled, was hit by Leslie Wade while walking her Seeing Eye dog in Morristown in 2009

A tasty Taste of Morristown: 10 years and counting

Don’t know what they served for your 10th birthday, but we are quite sure the menu did not compare with Monday’s Taste of Morristown extravaganza.

The Morristown Rotary knows how to throw a party!

Some 40 restaurants from Greater Morristown shared their greatest hits at the Hanover Marriott. Steak, sushi, chili, empanadas, salads, pork bellies in pineapple jam, barbecued Louisiana ribs, pulled-pork sandwiches, meatballs, ravioli, cannoli, buttercakes, lavender meringue cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, wine, Scotch, beer…

STOP!!! We’re getting hungry again.

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All the vendors donated their foods and services, to benefit Rotary charities that include the Interfaith Food Pantry, the Jersey Battered Women’s Service, local beautification projects and heart surgeries for Third World children.

“We believe in giving back to our community,” said Denny Morrison, past president of the Morristown Rotary. He estimated that Monday’s turnout approached last year’s number, 500, which translated to $40,000 for charity.

“This will allow us to continue our marching orders. Our existence (as Rotarians) is to help the world be a better place,” Denny said.

It’s tempting to rattle off some of our favorite finds. Despite determined efforts, however, we weren’t able to sample everything. So we don’t want to slight anyone.

Besides, we would rather hear what discoveries tickled your palate at Taste of Morristown.  Which dish will have you coming back for more?

 MORE ABOUT ‘TASTE OF MORRISTOWN’

 

Summit artists featured in Contemporary Art Group Exhibit

The Contemporary Art Group will be showing work at the Art Upstairs Gallery of the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown from March 6 to April 16. Entitled "Recent Works,” the show brings together 19 fine artists, sculptors and photographers...

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