LC Entertainment Performing Arts

In 2007 the Westbury-based pharmaceutical company, PL Developments, hosted its annual Holiday Candle Lighting Ceremony at its state of the art facility. PL Developments is actively involved in the community and sponsors the LC Performing Arts Center, also located in Westbury. In honor of the holiday event, PL Developments welcomed the remarkable LC Performing Arts Choir to perform at PLD’s annual holiday extravaganza.  The talented choir opened the ceremony with their lustrous voices and performed popular holiday songs and dances. Director and role model of the LCPAC, Lynette Carr-Hicks, lent her enthusiasm, professionalism and extraordinary talent to every aspect of PLD’s Holiday Celebration.  She and the outstanding choir created a truly joyous holiday atmosphere.  With the help of donations from local businesses, PL Developments held a raffle in which all proceeds went to the Not for Profit LC Performing Arts Center and enabled PL Developments to generate a sizeable donation to the LCPAC.  The LC Performing Arts Center is a newly formed community organization that offers courses in stage and voice and enables local children and young adults the ability to explore their own creativity, develop self-confidence and learn about the arts.    PL Developments is proud to sponsor such an endeavor within the community.

In addition to recognizing PL Developments’ dedicated employees at the holiday ceremony, the raffle allowed for local businesses such as Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Package All Corp., SCS Supplies, Shorewood, ABF, London Jewelers, Maximums Spa, Vincent’s Clam Bar, Novita, Premium Supply Company and many others to contribute donations that truly exemplify a generous holiday spirit.

PL Developments’ CEO Mitchell Singer stated, “’Tis the season to give back to the neighborhood and community.  We are blessed to celebrate the holiday with our PL Developments family, and we welcome the opportunity to help this very worthwhile performing arts center with our sponsorship. We are thrilled to enjoy the beautiful voices of these talented youngsters, and pleased to be a part of this wonderful endeavor, lead by Lynette Carr-Hicks.”

LC Performing Arts of Westbury
Named Best Small Choir

On Sept. 18, the 11-member young adult choir of LC Performing Arts of Westbury, under the director of Lynnette Carr-Hicks, was named the winner of "How Sweet the Sound," a Verizon Wireless Experience American Idol-type national competition for choirs. LC Performing Arts was named 2008 Best Small Choir and, as the winner, received a check for $10,000.

Over 15,000 people were in the competition, which took place at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark. Grammy award-winner Donald Lawrence was the emcee and judges included Marvin Sapp, a Grammy-winning singer and biblical teacher whose single Never Would Have Made It topped the charts; Hezekiah Walker, an award-winning gospel music artist and pastor of the Brooklyn-based Love Fellowship Tabernacle; and Denise Hill, a program director and radio host for New York's WLIB 1190-AM.

The competition included four small choirs (6-36 members), including Westbury, Laurelton, New Jersey and Central Islip, and four large choirs (36-100 members), including New Jersey, Trumbull, CT, Brooklyn and Mount Vernon. LC Performing Arts of Westbury performed Swing Low Sweet Chariot, a favorite of traditional gospel music fans.

According to Carr-Hicks, it was "so incredible as they sang and shouted and danced and praised God. They were absolutely amazing!" She added, "Westbury should be so proud of them as they really were fantastic and did an awesome job."

Carr-Hicks told The Westbury Times that she started the choir in an effort to keep today's youth off the streets and involved with something positive. "Each member has such an amazing story and all of them say that if it wasn't for me they probably would be in the streets somewhere," she said. "I always say there is a reason for people being placed here on Earth and I believe my gift is working with young people and I love it."

Empowered by her dedication and the choir's success, Verizon Wireless "How Sweet the Sound" filmed a documentary on Carr-Hicks and the LC Performing Arts Choir. On Oct. 21, camera crews rolled into Uniondale High School, where Carr-Hicks teaches chorus and general music classes, to film a documentary that focuses on the members of the LC Performing Arts Choir and their experiences with the competition as well as on Carr-Hicks and her reasons for starting the performing arts choir.

The documentary will air on HBO sometime in January.

- Victoria Caruso-Davis