Greenbelt Singers

by Jan Friedland

LW contributor

Living in Leisure World Seal Beach keeps getting better and better! Not only are there many clubs, activities and events going on each week but, now we have something new to entertain us. There’s a new group in town that call themselves “The Greenbelt Singers!”

Ken Notorleva, the person behind the group, moved to LW 2.5 years ago when an old friend and former co-worker since 1972, Dean Jacobus, told him that Leisure World is like “a day camp for seniors.” When Ken heard that, he said, “I’m in!”

Notorleva is no stranger to singing. In fact, he was a professional singer before moving to Seal Beach. In LW he discovered many singing groups and joined them.

While Notorvela was involved in several of these singing clubs, he would invite his neighbors to attend the club musicals, but few did.

He then suggested that they come to listen from his front porch in the afternoons where they could bring a chair, sit and listen to music from his greenbelt area. That worked. In January, Notorleva invited Ric Dizon, his singing buddy, to join him and bring music to Notorleva’s neighbors. From there he thought why not deliver music directly to all the Mutuals when invited.

Notorleva began sharing his vision of bringing music to the residents in any of the greenbelt areas, and other singers joined. The Greenbelt Singers come with their own accompanying music to perform the songs that we are all familiar with and love. The group is comprised of 22 singers.

Each gig has four or more singers joining Notorleva and Dizon. From January through July 15, the group has performed several times and have booked several more performances through September. Earlier this month, they performed for a Lapidary Club picnic celebrating three birthdays, and for a Sunshine Club picnic.

The Greenbelt Singers are absolutely terrific, and they sing for free. Donations are appreciated to maintain and replace equipment.

Those interested in booking The Greenbelt Singers to come a Mutual can contact Notorleva at musicmyway@icloud.com.

Dean Jacobus (r) and Ken Notorleva