New York Group 'The Sage Trio' Offers a Song of Hope for the World

By Gary Glennell Toms

The First Presbyterian Russell Sage Memorial Church of Far Rockaway was established in 1886. The current building was erected in 1908. The Sage Trio provides special music for weekly and holiday services. On occasion, they also accompany the church choir. Together with the church’s dynamic minister, Aqueelah Ligonde, services at the church are spiritual and inspiring. During the current pandemic, services are held each Sunday through the church’s YouTube Channel at 11:05 am.

The Sage Trio members are as follows:

Stuart E. Rauch, Music Director (1995-present)

Rauch grew up in the Rockaways and attended Far Rockaway High School. He received his BS in Music Education from Hunter College (CUNY), MA in Music and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Brooklyn College (CUNY). After graduating, he returned to Far Rockaway High School as a music teacher (1971-1983), where he taught Jazz Band, Concert Band, Chorus and was director of musical plays. He went on to become an assistant principal, supervising the music and art program at Francis Lewis High School (1983-1991).

In 1991, he became Director of Fine & Performing Arts for the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District on Long Island, from which he retired in 2005. In 2006, he became Executive Assistant for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and is still serving in the position.

During his career, Mr. Rauch also served as the first president of the Music Educators Association of New York City (MEANYC), President of the Nassau County division of the New York State Council for Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME), NYSCAME state president, and Government Relations chairperson for the Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA). He served as Director of Music at West End Temple in Rockaway for 53 years (1965-2018) and currently serves as Director of Music for First Presbyterian Church of Far Rockaway. He is celebrating his 25th year with the church.

Idelle Nissila-Stone, Mezzo-Soprano (2012-present)

Brooklyn-based singer Idelle Nissila-Stone's musical studies began with the French horn and piano. As an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, she majored in brass and voice and played French horn in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.

While earning her Master’s at the University of Minnesota, she was a Met Audition semi-finalist, and appeared in the premier of Libby Larsen’s T.V. opera for children, The Silver Fox. After graduation she performed in holiday productions at the Minneapolis Children’s Theater and attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

Although Idelle is a mezzo, she has performed roles as a Zwischenfach in New York, including Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Micaela (Carmen), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte) and Amelia (Amelia Goes to the Ball, Menotti). She performed the title role in Suor Angelica for the grand opening of the Rutgers/Camden Musical Theater Program. She continues to work as a soloist in the New York area.

Alisa Simmons, Alto (1995-present)

Alisa has been a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Far Rockaway, attending since she was 8-years-old and where she now sings with the senior choir and Sage Trio (formerly “Cornerstone”). She is an Elder and a member of several church ministries and committees. She is a native of Far Rockaway, but currently lives on Long Island. Ms. Simmons works as a Quality Management executive for a local health insurance company.

Marcus Kreiger, Tenor (2019-present)

Marcus Kreiger is a percussionist, singer/songwriter, and educator from Rochester, New York who specializes in world music. In 2016, he received his BA in Music Performance from the Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut. During his time at Hartt, he studied with Benjamin Toth (classical percussion), John Amira (Cuban/Haitian percussion), Rogerio Boccato (Brazilian percussion), Joe Galeota (West African percussion), and Shane Shanahan (Middle Eastern Percussion). He also studied Ear Training with Professor Benjamin Rauch, son of Stuart Rauch.

The extensive knowledge and musical language that he cultivated at Hartt has allowed him to showcase his abilities in venues and ceremonies around New York. He has also been able to share that knowledge with children in grades K-12 as a teaching artist with Marquis Studios.

As a singer/songwriter, Kreiger’s original music seamlessly blends elements of this diverse cultural background. In 2017, he started “World Soul”, a project that highlights the inherent universal connections between the art forms of cultures around the world. "More than a musical group or band, World Soul is a way of thinking about the art you create and how it connects with the creations of others in a deeper way," said Kreiger. "Collaboration and education are the fundamental elements that help this philosophy flourish."

Song: Gospel Hosanna! (Composed by Jack Schrader)
Video courtesy of Stuart Rauch.