Community

Riverhead Charter School choir serenades at local hospital

The Riverhead Charter School choir sing in the lobby of Peconic Bay Medical Center Tuesday. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
The Riverhead Charter School choir sing in the lobby of Peconic Bay Medical Center Tuesday. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

The Riverhead Charter School choir filled the halls of Peconic Bay Medical Center with holiday songs and good cheer Tuesday morning.

About 40 of the fourth- to seventh-grade students gathered around the grand piano in the lobby and later the physical therapy department in the surgical pavilion where patients were doing their rehab exercises. They also visited the Skilled Nursing facility to sing a few songs.

Jose Valdivia, a 10-year-old fourth-grader from Riverhead, performed two solos on piano, “Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock.”

They performed under the direction of music teachers Kenny Davis on piano and Jordan Hadgeoff on saxophone and flute.

“It is an excellent opportunity to do something positive in the community and it brings holiday spirit to those who are not as fortunate as we are,” Mr.Davis said. “It is difficult being in the hospital during the holidays.”

(Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
(Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

The event was coordinated by acute care nurse manager Aimee LoMonaco, who has a second grader in the school and is also on the charter school board.

“It is very heart warming to see two places I am committed to, PBMC and RCS, to come together and spread holiday cheer to our community,” she said.

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