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Community Corner

Time to Recognize all the DREAMKIDS KIDS!

From Andy Weaver:

Would like to take this time to recognize the Dream Kids:

Who are the performers of Dream Kids? Well, they are all different. But whether black, white, boy, girl, physically challenged, tall, short, shy, brave, confident, young, or older they all have one thing in common. They share their talents in order to directly make a difference in the lives of others. They are from Northampton, Lehigh, and Monroe counties and they attend various school districts. Wherever they are, they’re setting the tone for the rest of their lives in reaching out, entertaining, and helping others. Where have they performed? From churches to nursing homes and restaurants, shopping malls to fashion shows, backyards, telethons, and carnivals, they have been very active in the community. But as these spirited performers grow older, they eventually will be off to college and living their own lives. Through it all however, they will always hold dear the special people they have met, the friends they have made, and the joy they have given to others.

Jaime Lyn Keller
Jaime co-founded Dream Kids, which was started in 1996 working together to raise money for charity. Jaime has performed in school, community, college, regional & professional theater. Jaime is now a graduate from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and Director of Youth and Family Ministries at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth. Jaime hopes that Dream Kids will continue to grow as a family and last for years to come.

Hailey Carson
Hailey is a talented singer from Northampton who has performed at various venues in the Lehigh Valley. She was a finalist in the Lehigh Valley Idol contest. She is also a cheerleader.

Hailey Durner
Hailey is a talented singer from Nazareth who has performed in various plays at Nazareth Middle School, Nazareth Intermediate School and Nazareth High School. Hailey also has been a soloist at the Nazareth School District’s Diversity Festival in 2010 and 2011 . When not singing and acting, Hailey is a competitive swimmer as a member of the Parkland Area Aquatic Club. She also has been cheering for the Lower Nazareth Wildcats for the past 5 years. She enjoys reading, writing and watching movies and hopes to one day appear in a Broadway production.

Isabelle (Izzy) Dara
Isabelle has performed in numerous plays and musicals in Nazareth Intermediate, Middle and High Schools. She has also performed at the Country Gate Playhouse in Belvidere and with Movement Theater and Town Square Players in Nazareth. Isabelle also plays trumpet at Nazareth Middle School and plays soccer and softball. Isabelle hopes to study musical theater and business in the future. 

Mikaela Esposito
Mikaela is from Lower Nazareth and she sings in the St. John’s Lutheran Church choir. She is a “Jersey Girl” with stars in her eyes and Hollywood in her heart. When Mikaela isn’t singing, she’s thinking about singing; and when she’s not thinking about singing, she’s dreaming of her first starring role in a major motion picture. She has performed in Nazareth High School’s performance of Annie, Singin in the Rain and Anything Goes along with various plays at Nazareth Middle School. She has performed as Marta in Muhlenberg College Regional Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music. She would like to thank Mrs. Linda Strechay (her 2nd grade teacher) for encouraging her to give Dream Kids a try.

Zack Esposito
Zack is a singer from Lower Nazareth and attends Nazareth Area High School. He enjoys performing on stage as well as helping behind the scenes. He has performed in various shows at Nazareth Middle School and High School including Les Miserables, Singing in the Rain and Anything Goes. In addition to playing baseball, Zack also enjoys creating his own comic strip series and working on the computer.

Amber Glose 
Amber is a singer from Wind Gap and attends Pen Argyl High School. She participates in the school’s Drama Club. Amber loves to sing in the chorus and at her church. She has performed in various area talent shows. Amber would like to thank Pastor Jane Gaeta (retired) for working with her and getting her to where she is today.

Christina Karabiyik
Christina is a talented young singer and actress who has performed in numerous film projects which include Feature and Independent films, video shorts, commercial and television productions. She has performed on stage at various venues in the Lehigh Valley including roles in the Sound of Music, A Christmas Carol and Beauty and the Beast. Christina was chosen to be a ZHU ZHU Pet Kid in New York City in 2009. She was invited to the Annual Egg Roll at the White House by First Lady Laura Bush in 2008, for a special manuscript she wrote.

Jilian Keller
Jilian is currently a sophomore at Penn State University and sings with the Pennharmonics a cappella group. Jilian has been a member of Pa. Youth Theatre and has appeared in many of their plays. She had the lead role in the Nazareth Middle School performances (Once on this Island and Bye Bye Birdie) and more recently the part of the Mistress in Nazareth High School’s production of Evita and Eponine in Les Miserables. Jilian loves to perform (also sings in her church choir) and help raise money for others less fortunate than her.

Erin Kelly
Erin is an amazing singer from Allentown. She has performed for many Veterans Organizations and sang for the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers and the Hershey Bears, as well as many other sports teams in the region. She also has been performing with the Majestics Band since the age of 5. In 2006, she was the Lehigh Valley’s Junior Idol. She loves sports and enjoys donating her time to such a wonderful charity like Dream Come True.

Arissa Lahr 
Arissa is a talented singer who attends Nazareth High School and has performed the lead in various shows at Nazareth Middle School and Nazareth High School’s productions including Les Miserables, Singing in the Rain and Anything Goes. 

Vanessa Ruggiero
Vanessa is a talented singer who attends Nazareth High School and has performed the lead in various shows at Nazareth Middle School and Nazareth High School’s productions including Les Miserables, Singing in the Rain and Anything Goes. 

Mackenzie Schoeller
Mackenzie has enjoyed acting and singing for as long as she can remember. She is a member of the Stroudsburg Middle School drama club, where she has recently been selected for a lead role in an upcoming musical. Along with volunteering for Dream Kids, Mackenzie also participates in many volunteer events for her church and for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) such as walks, fashion shows, and more. She has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since she was 5. Mackenzie is an avid reader, and also enjoys writing stories, songs, and poems. She plays softball for the Monroe County Softball League, and is a talented artist as well.

Maslyn Schoeller
Maslyn is the youngest member of Dream Kids. She has been blessed with the gift of helping others, especially children with disabilities. Since 2009, Maslyn has been selected to be a school representative for K-Kids, a division of Kiwanis in Stroudsburg school district. She has led and/or participated in numerous initiatives with K-Kids, including sending letters to our troops overseas, collecting food for needy local families, and wrapping gifts for special needs children. She has volunteered at many church functions, and loves spending time with friends and family.

Jillian Skerchak
Jillian is a talented performer who also has been in variousl productions at Nazareth Middle School and High School including Singing in the Rain and Anything Goes. 

Ryan Skerchak
Ryan is a talented performer who has performed the lead in various musical productions at Nazareth Senior High School including Les Miserables and Singing in the Rain. 
Elizabeth Weiss
Elizabeth is an energetic performer who loves to use her talents to make people happy and help others. She has performed in Holy Family School’s four musical productions. She has also performed with Holy Family’s Choir for the past 7 years and joined Dream Kids in 2006. Elizabeth is very active in both sports and community. She plays basketball and volleyball, is a Girl Scout, and takes piano, voice, art and sign language classes. When she grows up she wants to be an artist and scientist. As a scientist she wants to help find a cure for Autism.

PAST DREAM KIDS PERFORMERS WHO HAVE MOVED ON TO OTHER STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS:
Marissa Brewer
Marissa is a singer from Nazareth who also performs in theater. She has performed for Holy Family School, Pa. Youth Theatre and Bethlehem Catholic High School.

Alexa Dectis
Alexa is a precious member of our group. Alexa comes with a wealth of attributes. Alexa is a member of the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre and is also very active with Camelot for Kids. Alexa has a disease called “SMA” (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). Alexa received her dream of a trip to Disney World from Dream Come True and she now is giving back to this wonderful organization. Alexa’s wish for herself as well as for others is that enough money is raised and more research is done to find a cure for this debilitating disease.
Gilbert sisters – Taryn, Tasia, and Teara
This tap team trio’s musical training includes study at the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre. These three sisters from Easton dance to charming tunes such as “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

Jewel Gilbert
Jewel is one of our few male singers who also joins with his sisters and brother to sing several tunes.

Jorne Gilbert
Jorne is one of our few male singers who also joins with his sisters and brother to sing several tunes.

Rebecca Heller
Rebecca (who prefers to be called Becca), won the Star of Bethlehem competition at Musikfest in 2006. She writes many of her own songs and performs with her dad who plays the guitar. She has been in many variety and talent shows in the Easton school district. Some of her other accomplishments have been: singing on the Brenda & Jerry T.V. show, singing the national anthem for the Lehigh Valley Catz games & Palmer Township Football games. She was a finalist in the Lehigh Valley Idol competition. Becca really enjoys singing and hopes to make it a future career. She also really loves helping people, and that’s why she is with the Dream Kids. She received a dream from Dream Come True as she battles Chron’s disease.

Amanda Kroboth
Amanda is a fabulous dancer from Nazareth who has performed in high school and college performances. She was our original Dream Kids dancer. She graduated from Desales University.

Bethany McCall
Bethany is a great dancer from Northampton who has performed in numerous plays for Pa. Youth Theater and other community theatres in the area. 

Kristal Nemeroff
Kristal is an accomplished singer. Her vocal accomplishments include singing for the 2004 Campaign to re-elect President George Bush, singing the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles, singing at the Pocono International Raceway for NASCAR events, winning the title of Pocono Teen Idol 2006, and volunteer singing for community events and charities. She has a brittle bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or OI for short. She has had over twenty fractures and ten surgeries, but she doesn’t let OI stop her from doing the things she loves to do. Kristal loves working with Dream Kids because it gives her a chance to give back to this wonderful foundation that granted her wish of going to Disney World.

Kaitlyn Nonnemacher
Kaitlyn is a singer/dancer who had been working with Dream Kids for many years. Kaitlyn has had dance, acting, and vocal training locally with the Pa. Youth Theatre (PYT) and in New York City. She also has performed in numerous PYT productions. Kaitlyn, along with fellow group member Jaime, recorded the song “We Choose Love” in New York with other singers and youth. Kaitlyn dances jazz and hip-hop at Dream Kids productions as well as sings with the group.

Alyssa Thatcher
Alyssa is a wonderful jazz singer from Easton who has performed in various jazz ensembles since leaving our group. 
Myles Thatcher
Myles is an awesome dancer from Easton who has gone on to study dance.

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