Within the empty halls of Mineola High School, which are usually crowded with the hustle and bustle typical of a day in the world of academics, the sweet melodies of singing emanate from the school's choir room. It is a Monday evening and members of the Mineola Choral Society are where they belong every week at 7:30 p.m., practicing their singing. On this particular Monday, they are practicing for a January concert and a special one - a Mozart Requiem that will be performed in honor of a former member.

Being a part of the Mineola Choral Society gives members something they know they can count on - being in the high school choir room every Monday evening doing what they love to do. "There are many times when many people, including our director, have come here after a day's work and you don't know if you can do it that night. By the time you start singing, it's just wonderful," said past President George Graf.

A non-profit organization, the choral society began more that half a century ago as an adult education course and has grown to about 60 members who are from Mineola as well as various other communities. The members simply love singing and the feeling they get from expressing themselves through vocal music.

For some, it is the opportunity to forget a day's troubles. "I look forward to [meeting every week]. I believe that music is therapeutic for people," said assistant director Jonathan Oblander.

Each member of the choral society would agree that being a part of the group gives one a sense of camaraderie, a sense of belonging as the entire group is a family. Every practice is like a family gathering and when someone is missing, it becomes apparent.

Although the presence of one voice is clearly missing from the group as it practices one recent Monday evenings, members are trying to keep the memory of the person it belonged to close to their hearts. The voice is that of Peter J. Haller.

Last year, the organization suffered a major loss when the long time member died. Members miss not only singing with Haller, but also his friendship.

The Mineola Choral Society now is in the process of practicing for their usual engagements such as two principal concerts each year, a Christmas concert at Corpus Christi Church in conjunction with the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, performances at Winthrop-University Hospital, the A. Holly Patterson Nursing Home, churches and libraries. However, this year, the group has another goal - preserving and honoring the memory of their beloved former member.

"We all loved him very dearly," said Mineola Choral Society Director Martha Regelmann. "He was a wonderful man and very active both in the organization and in the community, promoting the organization and singing wherever we could sing."

A 25-year member of the choral society, Haller along with his wife Diane forged a relationship with the Mineola Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he became the choral society's representative to the Mineola Chamber.

Members of the choral society remember Haller as a caring man who would do anything for his friends. They also credit him with bringing many members into the society. "Pete was a very open and warm individual," said President Beth Nilsen. "You'd walk into a room and you'd get a bear hug right away."

Although Haller's voice no longer fills the air of the high school choir room nor can it be heard in the numerous groups he sang with, members of the Mineola Choral Society insist that his spirit is still with them. His love of life and exuberance is a part of all of them and it can clearly be heard in every one of their voices, through every song during every performance. "When we're singing here together, you just know. He was so much a part of this that he is still a part of it," said Regelmann.

Not only will the choral society dedicate in Haller's memory their first principal concert of the year, the Mozart Requiem, which will take place at Notre Dame Church in New Hyde Park on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 2:30 p.m., but they also have formed the Peter J. Haller Vocal Music Excellence Award.

The award will be presented annually to a graduating Mineola High School student who has demonstrated talent in vocal performance and is planning to continue to pursue vocal music. The Mineola Choral Society plans to present an initial award of $1,000. In order to support the yearly award, the choral society has put together a foundation called the Mineola Choral Society Peter J. Hall Award Foundation. The choral society is accepting donations to the foundation through an ongoing fund drive. Any money donated to the foundation will be used exclusively for the award and kept separate from the day-to-day financial operations of the Mineola Choral Society.

"We're trying to give back to the community. We've been a part of the Mineola community for 52 years. We've always tried to give back to the community and this is one way to do it," said Graf.

"The other thing that's wonderful for us is to be able to keep the memory of this wonderful man alive and to do something, to be able to focus on something that speaks so much to the type of person he was," said Regelmann.

For Diane Haller, it has been an emotional time, losing her husband and then trying to keep his memory alive. The annual award is the best way she knows how. "From the time Pete sang at his mother's piano bench and learned to sing as a little boy, vocal music has been a major part of his life," said Diane Haller. "It was the love of his life so I can't think of anything better than this award."

For information on the Jan. 14 Mozart Requiem concert, call 328-3511.