Christina Carelli has been a part of the choir program since her freshman year of high school. During her years in the choir program, she has been in all three curricular choirs. Christina has also
...taken part of Glee in her freshman and sophomore year, Lorelei from sophomore to senior year, and A Capella Alliance her senior year. Christina also was a part of three Christmas Spectaculars during her time in the choir program. She was even honored to have the Christmas Spectacular written for her in her senior year. Christina also received the 2017 Choral Director’s Award.
Christina also was a part of the Theater Arts Department since her freshman year. She has been in every musical in all her four years (Beauty and the Beast, How to Succeed…, Pippin, and The Will Rogers Follies) and in two of the plays (You Can’t Take It With You and The Dairy of Anne Frank).
Christina is so grateful for all her experiences in the Theater Arts Department and is especially grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Gunning for all she has learned from them. Christina is going to attend The University of the Arts in the fall to pursue a BFA in acting.
Christina never had the chance to meet Kim Nelson but she is so honored and humbled to be a part of her legacy. This is such a meaningful scholarship to the Choir Program and the Theater Arts Department and she is so grateful for all that the foundation does for each of the programs.
Josh Lisner was an active member of the BRHS Choir and Theatre Programs. During his high school career, he was enrolled in Mixed Choir and Symphonic Choir. He also was a member of several of the
...after-school ensembles including glee and ensembros. Josh is thankful to have been a member off the theatre arts department and International Thespian Society. The theatre program was where Josh found out that he wanted a career in performing in addition to teaching. Josh also used his culmination of technical and logistical skills to contribute to the Theatre Arts Department. His hard work and dedication to the program earned him the rank of International Honor Thespian, the highest rank within the International Thespian Society. Only three people have received this rank in Bridgewater Raritan thus far. Josh also earned the National School Choral Award for his dedication to the choral program. “The National School Choral Award is the highest honor for high school choral performers. It recognizes the dedication and musical achievement of the top choral students.” Josh is currently attending Westminster Choir College for a Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education. He was also recently awarded the position of Tenor Section leader at Westminster.
The choir program has always been a tight family and a safe harbor for Josh and others. This can only be created by leaders who are dedicated to offering hope, caring for others and being there to brighten another person’s day. When people talk about Kim, they say how she was compassionate, treated people with respect and that she could change someone’s day because she was there to listen and cared. Although Josh never had the opportunity to meet Kim, he was inspired by this and has invested a great deal to live this way. As a freshman, Josh thought the most attractive quality of the choir and theatre programs was the environment. The leaders of the programs created a safe harbor that made him feel welcomed, accepted and as if I belonged. On many occasions he entered the choir room with great weight and heavy burdens that were quickly lifted by the cheerful spirits of those around. It’s been said that Kim could change anyone’s day and that she would give a part of herself just to make someone happy. The legacy of Kim’s Way has been displayed year after year and continues to influence the lives of others. As Mr. Wilson’s teaching assistant, Josh was asked at the beginning of the year what he wanted to contribute to the choir program; what he wanted his legacy for this program to be. It was clear to him that he wanted this program to be a safe haven for others like it was for him. It is rare to find an organization whose mission is the development of the individual, opposed to just the development of their craft.
It is a great honor for Josh to receive this scholarship and he is very grateful for the foundation and its support. Kim’s influence echoes not only through the lives of those she got to meet but also through Josh and all involved in the choir and theatre programs. She was a beacon of light to all who came in contact with her. She left a legacy which will live on for years to come.
Jack McManus has been involved in the BRHS Choir Program since his freshman year, serving in both the Mixed and Symphonic Choirs. Starting his sophomore year, Jack was involved in Ensembros and
...Glee. From junior year on, he served as the Grand Poobah of Ensembros, as well as arranging the majority of the pieces the group performed. Jack, along with two colleagues (Ryan Cook and Derek Crosby), had the privilege of writing and directing two Christmas Spectaculars—one starring himself, the other starring Christina Carelli. Additionally, Jack has been fairly active in the BRHS Drama Program since his freshman year. Roles he has played include LeFou (Beauty and the Beast), J. Pierrepont Finch (How to Succeed), and most recently Will Rogers (The Will Rogers Follies). His senior year, Jack directed the first ever Thespian Honors Society Spring Gala. Jack is very active with theater outside of high school, spending his summers attending, and working at, theater camps.
Outside of school, Jack is involved with several activities. He performs stand-up comedy all across the state of New Jersey. He has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America—serving as Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 154 in 2014, and becoming an Eagle Scout in 2016. He also volunteered at the Midland School helping adults with special needs perform theater.
Jack participated in the Sing-Off three times in his high school career : in 2014, singing "Delilah" by Tom Jones, in 2016, singing "Ballad of Guiteau" from Stephen Sondheim's Assassins with Ryan Cook, and in 2017 singing "What I Did For Love" from A Chorus Line with the men's quartet The Sons of Pitches. Jack never had the opportunity to meet Kim Nelson. But he would like to thank her and the legacy she has left behind. From the Sing-Off, to funding students to attending Westminster Choir College's Vocal Institute (to which he has participated twice), and of course to the college scholarships, the Foundation in her honor has done incredible work.
Christina Carelli has been a part of the choir program since her freshman year of high school. During her years in the choir program, she has been in all three curricular choirs. Christina has also
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Josh Lisner was an active member of the BRHS Choir and Theatre Programs. During his high school career, he was enrolled in Mixed Choir and Symphonic Choir. He also was a member of several of the
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Jack McManus has been involved in the BRHS Choir Program since his freshman year, serving in both the Mixed and Symphonic Choirs. Starting his sophomore year, Jack was involved in Ensembros and
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