Next up in our short series of member project spotlights: a beautiful rendition of Both Sides Now. (Catch the first part of the series here.)
Watch & listen to Both Sides Now, featuring:
- Baritone Kenneth Wasser — vocals
- Soprano Patti D’Andrea — piano
- With sound engineering and video editing by tenor Douglas Clark
This track will be part of our upcoming feature-length digital production American Voices: From Our Homes to Yours. Don’t forget to register now for the free virtual premiere on June 6, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
Member Spotlight: Baritone Kenneth Wasser
Q: What town do you currently live in?
A: Long Branch
Q: For how long have you been a member of MCC, and why did you choose to join?
A: Since 1974. I joined to immerse myself in classical as well stage works.
Q: What’s your favorite piece or concert ever performed with MCC, and what did you love about it?
A: Verdi Requiem, for its thrilling orchestra, choral parts, and solos rolled into one.
Q: What volunteer positions have you held with MCC, and what have you found most rewarding about volunteering?
A: I’m a newbie! I’m currently serving on the 75th Anniversary Committee.
Q: What do you do when not participating in MCC?
A: I participate in additional music projects, both solo and in community groups such as Cabaret for Life and Garden State Symphonic Band. I love sharing MCC experiences with my wife Linda, who is an alto and fellow chorus member. I also enjoy biking and travel.
Q: What’s your favorite…
A: Meal: Whole roasted branzini with lemon, capers, and olives
A: Movie: Any Spielberg movie
A: Place to visit: Italy
Q: What is one fun or surprising fact about you?
A: I enjoy holding my breath and swimming under water as far as I can.
Q: What’s one great piece of advice (of any kind!) that you’ve received and would like to pass along to others?
A: Treat today as if it is your last.
Q: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to?
A: Performing live.
Member Spotlight: Soprano and MCC President Patti D’Andrea
Q: What town do you currently live in?
A: Wayside (Ocean Township)
Q: For how long have you been a member of MCC, and why did you choose to join?
A: Since 1987. I joined to meet people when I first moved to the area.
Q: What’s your favorite piece or concert ever performed with MCC, and what did you love about it?
A: My favorite piece was Ragtime, sung with Cabaret for Life, for its powerful emotions. My favorite concert was singing mass at St. Peter’s in Rome — it was deeply spiritual, with fantastic acoustics.
Q: What volunteer positions have you held with MCC, and what have you found most rewarding about volunteering?
A: Lots! Chorus Voice Editor, Echoes newsletter writer, press release writer, Patron Manager, Board Member—Financial Development and Financial Operations, Board Officer—President.
Q: What do you do when not participating in MCC?
A: I work full time, managing a team to write business proposals for Federal Engineering, a public safety consulting firm. I’m church organist/ choir director at Redeemer Lutheran Church. I spend a lot of time with my husband Steve and our three grandkids.
Q: What’s your favorite…
A: Meal: Sushi
A: Movie: Dirty Dancing
A: Place to visit: Kauai, Hawaii
Q: What is one fun or surprising fact about you?
A: I love animals, especially our two dogs Brent and Ginger and cat Lexi.
Q: What’s one great piece of advice (of any kind!) that you’ve received and would like to pass along to others?
A: Life is meant to be lived. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
Q: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to?
A: Singing together live and in person.
Member Spotlight: Tenor and Prior MCC Board Member Douglas Clark
Q: What town do you currently live in?
A: Tinton Falls
Q: For how long have you been a member of MCC, and why did you choose to join?
A: I joined in 1987. I had heard MCC perform Mozart Great Mass in C Minor at Holmdel High School, and was amazed, and wanted to try choral music as something new for me.
Q: What’s your favorite piece or concert ever performed with MCC, and what did you love about it?
A: Mahler’s Veni Creator Spiritus (from the 8th Symphony) was very memorable for me, though I have so many favorites. I loved that we had about 12 soloist members from within the chorus, and I was honored to be one of them, and the work was so exciting, exhilarating, and my most challenging public solo performance at the time.
Q: What volunteer positions have you held with MCC, and what have you found most rewarding about volunteering?
A: I served on the Board, and feel proud to be the first member to give a presentation on non-profit fundraising to the Board, and encouraged the establishment of the MCC Endowment Fund which became a reality a few years later, and will support MCC forever. I also served as Production Manager for MCC’s “Fiddler on the Roof” musical, where I worked with the wonderfully talented and friendly people that have remained friends for life, and learned so much on live artistic stage productions, and teamwork.
Q: What do you do when not participating in MCC?
A: I am building a second career in music and video production, teaching music, professional singing, and composing/arranging choral music that is very exciting, creative, and brings new opportunities to serve and entertain my musical friends every day. I have produced classical recordings in my home-based Glass Bottom Studios, and have been building a worldwide distribution of streaming listeners. I love to sail my Hobie catamaran in Sandy Hook Bay. And I still do part-time engineering contract work for AT&T, after retirement in 2019.
Q: What’s your favorite…
A: Meal: Lobster
A: Movie: Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
A: Place to visit: Florence, Italy
Q: What is one fun or surprising fact about you?
A: I operated a Lobster pound and outdoor restaurant in Maine with my brother during college summers.
Q: What’s one great piece of advice (of any kind!) that you’ve received and would like to pass along to others?
A: Follow your passion, so that work is something you’ll love doing every day of your life.
Q: What’s one thing you’re looking forward to?
A: Parties, and singing with friends in the same room.
Member Project Spotlight: One Voice