Guests at Pleasant Valley Adult Care Center listen to a violin duet by students Stefon Flego and Christina Betancourt on Jan. 11. LITTLE SILVER - Piano teacher TerryWhelan couldn't help noticing the elderly gentlemanwho followed every word that hermusic students sang in a special performance at the Pleasant Valley Adult Day Care Center in Holmdel.

Sal, who spends his days at the center, was transported by the music back to his native Italy, where he enjoyed the opera and once dreamed of singing professionally.

Themusical variety programby Red Bank Regional High School Tri-M Music Honor Society students was the result of a happy coincidence - some of the RBR Visual and Performing Arts students travel on a school bus driven by Larry Sherwood, whose wife is the activities director at the adult day care center.

When the Tri-M(ModernMusic Masters) students told Larry that they often give presentations to special groups as part of theirmusic honor society's community service component, one thing led to another, and in January the students put together a 90-minute program. The performance showcased all the talents of theMusicHonor Society students, including contemporary guitar, flute, xylophone, piano and violin duets and soloists and vocalists who performed operatic arias and spirited Broadway show numbers.

Max Dill performs a selection by the Allman Brothers. The entire time, their guests were tapping their feet and clapping their hands in appreciation, including Larry, their bus driver.

"This is so special for them," said Ellen Vengelis, Pleasant Valley's assistant activities director. "We have some clientswho find it difficult to respond to anything.When they hear the music, they are remembering the past and burst out singing."

Whelan, who is themusic honor society's adviser, said, "I was very proud of our students. We discussed the opportunity at an honor society meeting and the students decided just what pieces they would perform. The entire program came together very quickly. It was a genuine pleasure for us to entertain these ladies and gentlemen."

Before their happy guests left, the students promised to return for future productions.

Tri-M Music Honor Society is the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students, which recognizes students for their academic and musical achievements and service activities.

It is a program of the National Association for Music Education. RBR has a large contingent of students who qualify for this honors programdue to the high school's popular and comprehensive Visual and PerformingArtsAcademy.