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Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus Newsletter
July 29, 2022

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A tribute to Albert “Van” Schnellbacher

It is with profound sadness that the Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus shares the news of the passing of Albert “Van” Schnellbacher in June at the tender age of 92.

Van sang with the OCMC from 2010 through 2019.

A stalwart member of our bass section and an occasional soloist, he had enjoyed a career starting out as a boy soprano in radio and professional theater.

His joyful love of singing, of everything Orpheus as well as of his church choir and his family most of all was simply infectious. Rest in peace.
In photos: (Top) Van Schnellbacher speaks with John Palatucci aboard Orpheus' float for a Fourth of July parade in Ridgewood. (Bottom left) Richard Rehbein, Schnellbacher, and Peter Bernich at the 2018 Orpheus annual dinner. (Bottom right) Schnellbacher (center) poses with his son Glenn, and Glenn's wife and children, who performed in Orpheus' Cowboys of the American West concert in April 2018.

From the Podium

Above and below: Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus performing at the Kasschau Memorial Shell, June 28, 2022. Photos by Zigi Putnins.

John J. Palatucci, music director

Hail, friends of music!

When I became music director of Ridgewood’s oldest civic musical organization back in 1990, our performance schedule consisted of one December concert with an appearance the following week caroling at Valley Hospital along with one concert in April. Period.

That schedule has expanded over the years to between eight and 12 appearances annually. Everything from the Lincoln Center Library to Carnegie Recital Hall to NYC’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to the Bergen County Veteran’s Home to Flag Day at Valley Hospital. to many other local and regional musical and civic organizations and venues.

At Ridgewood’s famous 4th of July parade we have thus far been awarded first place for best music (not marching) in 2017 and 2018. We’ve sung for our neighbors and rehearsal venue hosts at the Care One Cupola in Paramus and the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood 

The OCMC has performed with esteemed local and regional ensembles, most notably the Ridgewood Concert Band, now the NJ Wind Symphony. We’ve also performed with the Palisades Virtuosi, Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Teaneck Community Summer Band, the Orchestra of Saint-Peter-by-the-Sea, the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, and our sister chorus, the venerable Ridgewood Choral women’s chorus.

Fun!

One of our absolute favorite places to perform is Ridgewood’s own Frank and Howard Kasschau Memorial Bandshell. Having performed all over, I can safely say that the Kasschau shell is an acoustical and visual jewel! Since our earliest appearance there at its unveiling on June 17, 1958, to the present, it has become something of our home away from home.

Most recently, the OCMC sang a full concert at the Kasschau Memorial Bandshell this past June 28. I am happy to report that we continue to slowly reassemble our 45-50+ member chorus, with 24 singers appearing here. Of greater importance, if audience response is any indication, the quality of our performance has not waned, especially over the course of this pandemic-restricted era. We are men who like to sing and like to sing well!

I am so proud of who we are and what we do! Wouldn’t you like to join the fun? In addition to our gala holiday concerts on December 17 and 18, we will be appearing at the Wanaque Reserve on September 24 and once again with the NJ Wind Symphony on December 9. Rehearsals start on Wednesday evening, September 7, from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. Join us. It’s a great break from the week!


We sing as one!

John J. Palatucci, music director
THE ORPHEUS CLUB MEN’S CHORUS

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Newsletter editor: Eric Schwarz

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