AHA’s Christmas Music Video Highlights the Best of Tri-M & JOY

Students from the Academy of the Holy Angels have released a Christmas music video. Members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and Joining Old & Young produced the virtual concert for local senior citizens and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, AHA’s foundresses and sponsors.

“The Christmas video features a compilation of festive pieces by some of our Tri-M musicians, from vocal to instrumental renditions,” said AHA Tri-M Chapter 2150 President Mary Quimbo of Woodcliff Lake. “It will be sent to nursing homes in our area as well as the SSNDs in Wilton, Connecticut. Traditionally, AHA musicians used to perform during the SSND Donor Recognition Luncheon in Wilton roughly around this time of year, but under these unprecedented circumstances, we are sending this video instead for them to enjoy.”

Quimbo explained that Tri-M produced the video in collaboration with JOY, an AHA-based group that performs at residences for senior citizens in New York and New Jersey. She noted that JOY facilitated the distribution of the video to several assisted living facilities.

“We really wanted to spread the wonder of music, especially during the Christmas season, through this outreach initiative, despite some of the obstacles the pandemic might present to us,” the Tri-M officer added.

In addition to Quimbo, Tri-M officers for the 2020-2021 academic year include Vice President Samantha Shah of Demarest, and Secretary Faith Youn of Closter. Tri-M board members are Arielle Maravilla of Leonia; Annalise Olsen of Stony Point, New York; and Kirstyn Barsola of Paramus.

Tri-M is also considering ways to offer music instruction to underprivileged young students in the Newark Area through programs such as Trenton Music Makers and Love Violin USA. These musicians are also investigating a new fundraising strategy, and have discussed the production of a monthly newsletter.

Sponsored by the National Association for Music Educators, Tri-M recognizes young musicians and strives to produce leaders in music education and advocacy. AHA’s group remains one of the most active chapters in the area. Students organize outreach concerts, and have raised funds for a non-profit that purchases instruments for young musicians who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own. Membership in Tri-M is open to fine musicians who also demonstrate scholarship, character, leadership, and service.

JOY has been sharing music with senior citizens since the early 2000s. At that time, an AHA student noticed that her grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, lit up when she played old music. That student wanted to bring the same joy to others. This group’s outreach work also includes raising funds for Make-a-Wish.

JOY officers include Co-presidents Natalie Andreoli of Wyckoff and Judianne Meredith of River Vale; Vice President Josephine Noble of Demarest, Secretary/Treasurer Natasha Dhanrajani of Bardonia, New York, and Music Coordinator Arielle Maravilla of Leonia, who edited JOY’s videos. Dhanrajani and Maravilla also plan the group’s events.

AHA’s new Tri-M adviser is AHA Performing Arts Director Dan Mahoney. Suzanne Alenick is moderator for JOY.

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious high school serves young women from a broad spectrum of cultural and religious backgrounds. Over time, thousands of women have passed through AHA’s portals. Many go on to study at some of the nation’s best universities, earning high-ranking positions in medicine, government, law, education, public service, business, arts, and athletics. The Academy’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.