On The Right Note
Festive Flutes show spreads holiday spirit
Asbury Park Press
December 4, 1999
By Bonnie Delaney, Staff Writer
For those in need of a little holiday cheer, the Festive Flutes offer a program sure to get you in the spirit of the season.
The 10-member group kicks off its holiday season tomorrow with a free show at the Brick Cultural Arts Center at 521 Herbertsville Road (behind Havens Homestead) in Brick.
The hour-long show will begin at 7 p.m. and include such favorites as Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” the “Christmas Overture,” arranged by Holcombe, and Victor Herbert’s “Toyland,” along with popular Christmas tunes.
Other performances will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River, and at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Barnes and Noble book store, 44 Brick Plaza, Brick.
“It’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit,” said Marjorie Koharski, of Neptune, who started the group 13 years ago and serves as its director.
“Flute choirs are becoming popular, but we’re still unique to the area,” Koharski said. “People seem to like the light and mellow tones of the instrument,” she said. “I do, too.”
Though she has been playing the flute since childhood, Koharski’s first instrument was not a flute, but a violin. Her father, Forest Walter, was a professional violinist, and brought up a musical family, she said.
“But there were a few orchestras around to perform in while I was growing up, so I switched to the flute so I could play in bands and orchestras,” she said.
Koharski, who also plays the piccolo, performs with the Monmouth Symphony and teaches violin.
During the spring and autumn, the Festive Flutes feature programs of light classical music, along with show tunes and old favorites.
At the show last year, the group features selections from “The Sound of Music” and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
The flute choir includes musicians who play the piccolo, C flutes and alto flutes.
Other members include Veronica Benjamin, Neptune; Nancy Bierbrauer, Brick; Bianca Campo, Long Branch; Ellie Cheung, Holmdel; Michele Horner and Patricia Mumpower, both of Howell; Alison LaRosa, Manasquan; Carolyn Mauer, Middletown, and Dana Macedo, of Tinton Falls.