The chorus of “Che Sera, Sera” could be heard echoing through the halls of Clinton G. Martin Park building on Monday afternoon
The singers, a group known as the Entertainers, were preparing for their next performance – a show at The Bristal Senior Residence, an assisted living facility in nearby North Hills.
As a group made up of 38 seniors in and around New Hyde Park, The Entertainers have a better appreciation of the Bristal audience than most, which was reflected in the songs they were preparing to sing.
“We sing songs that have melody, the old-time songs, so much nicer than what you hear today,” said Mineola resident Alice Russo, a soprano who’s been with the group for more than a decade.
Russo, 82, also sings in the choir of the Community Church of East Williston, said she’s been singing in church choirs since she was 13 years old.
Until a few years ago, Florence Vartoukian, 75, sang in the choir of Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Bayside, Queens. She said she has been singing with The Entertainers for the past 17 years, and thoroughly enjoying it.
“I like singing with the group because they’re very friendly people,” Vartoukian said. “It’s wonderful. When we go to nursing homes or wherever, the faces of the people make you happy.”
Ten years ago, Vartoukian convinced her husband, Archy, to join the chorus instead of just dropping her off at the Monday practices.
“I’m not much of a singer. But I enjoy performing,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The senior singers play a senior circuit of nursing homes and assisted living facilities that have included the Parker Jewish Institute, the New Hyde Park and Williston Park seniors clubs, the Mineola Golden Age Club, the Atria Cuttermill Senior Residence in Great Neck and the Atria Senior Residence in Roslyn Harbor.
Archy Vartoukian, 84, plays comedic bits in the shows the seniors produce with scripts written by Grace Zuccaro, who was a comparative youngster of 55 when joined the group as its director eight years ago after retiring from her job as English teacher in Hauppauge High School.
A committee of The Entertainers selects the songs for each season’s shows and Zuccaro writes a script to provide a bridge between the tunes.
“Instead of plain singing, we work it into a show,” said Zuccaro, a New Hyde Park resident and member of the Sons of Italy Cellini Lodge. “We’re there to entertain the people. We bring joy to ourselves. But we try to bring joy to others.”
Other classic tunes in the group’s summer season repertoire include “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” “I Feel Pretty,” “Whatever Lola Wants” and Cole Porter’s “I Get A Kick Out of You.”
Like other members, 82-year-old New Hyde Park resident Georgette Baker said she’s been getting a kick out of singing since she was a girl and she gets a kick out of the weekly practices. She recalled singing with her sister when she was growing up in Richmond Hills, Queens and being a member of the All-City Chorus in high school.
“I found it to be such a wonderful experience. What better way to start the week that to sing?” she said.
Floral Park soprano Angela LaCourte, 88, started singing when she was already advanced in years.
“I just joined this group at a late stage in my life and I love every minute of it,” she said. “I just wait for Mondays to come.”
The Monday practices prepare the group for holiday season performances and spring and summer seasons of up to five venues each season.
Ellen Jaffe, a retired music teacher, made the transition from singer in the group to musical director six years ago and keeps the group focused on selections from the great American songbook with the assistance of Eleanor Gilden, the group’s accompanist.
New Hyde Park Barbara Swasey is the resident costume woman and Nunzio and Emma Milazzo also provide essential services. Nunzio is the group’s equipment manage while Emma is treasurer and music librarian.
The group has existed since 1988, originally based at Eisenhower Park, but relocated to its current Clinton G. Martin base more than 20 years ago, according to its producer Rose Marie Menduni, a former opera singer.
Menduni, 83, lived in New Hyde Park until 10 years ago and has been involved with the group. She sang with National Grand Opera in the chorus when she was younger sang in New Rochelle Opera two years ago.
“It’s a very cohesive group. They’re all really fond of each other,” Menduni said. “The biggest challenge for me is to get people to be quiet when we’re having a music rehearsal.”
She said it’s also a challenge to find new members, which she has been actively seeking.
The group will be performing June 19 at Clinton G. Martin in an hour-long program starting at 1:30 p.m. Its final performance of the season will be at Summerset Gardens in Plainview the following week.
