‘America Sings’ concert coming

The Men’s Club of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Oak Park will host "America Sings," an evening of musical entertainment for the entire family on Sat., Feb. 24.

John Friel, a member of the St. Max Men’s Club, said that the group is especially excited to have Shelly Cohen, also a member of the Men’s Club, as producer and director for the event.

The concert will feature the New Horizon Singers and the Pacific Pops Orchestra and selections will include ‘‘It’s a Grand Night for Singing,’’ ‘‘Classic Country,’’ ‘‘We Love a Parade’’ (76 Trombones), ‘‘Children’s Melody,’’ ‘‘Broadway Melody,’’ ‘‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic,’’ ‘‘Medley from South Pacific,’’ ‘‘Danny Boy,’’ ‘‘Climb Every Mountain,’’ ‘‘Ave Maria,’’ ‘‘God Bless America’’ and more.

According to Friel, Cohen has been an integral part of America’s music community for nearly 30 years. He was the assistant musical director for the Johnny Carson Show until Carson retired in 1992. He was the music coordinator for the prestigious Emmy Awards, a director of The Today Show’s "Reflections of Irving Berlin and Richard Rogers" and producer of two NBC Christmas specials; "Christmas with Friends" and "Noel."

Cohen’s been the guest conductor for the Los Angeles "Pops" and the Pasadena "Pops" Orchestras. And for 20 years before moving to this area from Calabasas and joining St. Max, Cohen conducted the St. Mel’s church senior choir in Woodland Hills. "We had upwards of 100 voices there. It was glorious times," Cohen said.

For the last 10 years Cohen has been a record producer, video producer and musical director for the New Horizons Singers.

"It’s mainly amateurs, but we have quite a track record of doing some pretty nice things over the years," Cohen said. With 75 singers in the group, they bring a good community spirit to wherever they perform.

"We involve the audiences, and everyone feels very comfortable. We encourage them to sing along and things like that," Cohen said.

"America Sings" will incorporate patriotic music, some Broadway, "and we will even throw in a little ‘Danny Boy’ for our favorite Irish Monsignor," Cohen said.

Cohen will also present a special composition of "Ave Maria," which holds a personal sentimental meaning for him. He explained that since 1971 he was converted to Catholicism but despite his Jewish background he can remember as a teenager that his mother "strangely enough" would always love to hear him play "Ave Maria" on the violin, "and she would just sit there weeping," Cohen said.

He said his mother is not around anymore and never heard his composition of Ave Maria, "so this is for my mom," he said.

American Sings begins at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 24 at St. Maxililian Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village at the corner of Lindero Canyon and Kanan Roads.

Tickets are $10 for Adults and $6 for seniors and children and can be purchased at the St. Max parish office. Refreshments will be available during intermission.

For more information, call the parish office at (818) 991-3915.