Dear Friend of Zamir, Happy 2007! After a short holiday break to catch our breath from the fall whirlwind, Zamir is back in gear with a full schedule of local and regional concerts, including this week's "Jews and Blues" extravaganza at the Newton JCC. Check out the roster below and read the Fall Roundup from this very busy 38th season. 
Keeping the Voices Alive:January Fundraiser a Success Nearly 50 people passed up the Patriots' playoff game and mild weather to hear a 12-voice ensemble from Zamir's ranks perform at a fundraising soiree, hosted by Zamir board member Dr. Roslyn G. Weiner on Sunday, January 7. "It's much more than the outstanding music," said longtime Zamir supporter Frederic Jacobs about the Chorale's mission. "Zamir is about education; it's about the continuity of our shared artistic heritage; it's about keeping the voices of the Holocaust alive, enhancing our connection with Israel, and bringing the beauty of our collective culture into the full spectrum of the Jewish community." Thank you, Fred, Roz, and guests, for a delightful and successful afternoon! Upcoming Concerts
This Weekend! Jews and Blues at JCC
Saturday, January 27, 8:00 pm, and Sunday, January 28, 2:00 pm: "Jews and Blues," Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, Newton: You might feel the JCC shake, rattle, 'n' roll when Artistic Director Joshua Jacobson and Zamir, in collaboration with Nathaniel Stringfield and his band, HouseK'wake, team up this weekend. The program includes individual sets by each group and a not-to-be-missed joint set showcasing Jewish and African-American music— swing, jazz, folk, gospel, reggae, and blues. For more information, go to LSJCC or call the JCC Box Office at 617-965-5226. Kol Hanshamah: Zamir to Perform with Area Day School Choirs Sunday, February 11, 3:00 pm at Natick High School: Kol Hanshamah, or "every spirit," is the theme of the first annual All Jewish Day School Music Festival, featuring Zamir and area children's choirs. Organized by Trudy Shulman Fagen of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston, the concert also includes groups from the MetroWest Jewish Day School, South Area Solomon Schechter Day School, Jewish Community Day School, and Gann Academy. All proceeds go to the Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, which houses the largest trauma unit in the Middle East. Tickets: $15; family discount of $50 for four seats (advance purchase only). Mail orders to: SSDS Boston, 125 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA, 02459 or contact Dana at [email protected]. (Checks payable to SSDS Boston.) Reaching Out to Seniors Sunday, February 25, 2:00 pm, Hebrew SeniorLife, Roslindale: In keeping with our mission to bring quality Jewish music into the community, Zamir will perform our annual winter concert for residents at Hebrew SeniorLife. "It's always a joy to watch their faces light up as they sing and clap along, and sometimes dance," says Joshua Jacobson. Koleinu and Mak'hela Choirs to Join Zamir for N.E. Jewish Choral Festival Sunday, March 18, 7:30 pm, Regis College, Weston: The 12th Annual New England Jewish Choral Festival kicks off with an afternoon of rehearsals, workshops, and socializing for the invited participants. Joining Zamir are Koleinu, Jewish Community Chorus of Boston, directed by Carol Marton, and Mak'hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts, directed by Kayla Werlin. In an evening concert open to the public, each group will perform and then all three will fill the stage for a combined set. Hosted by Hebrew College's Jewish Music Institute, under the direction of Cantor Scott Sokol, the event celebrates music by Jewish composers with New England ties, including Cantor Charles Osborne, Robert Stern, Karen Tarlow, and Leonard Bernstein. Join us for the festival-ities! Tickets: $10 at the door (no registration necessary). For more information, contact [email protected] or call 617-559-8643. Fall Roundup Judas Maccabaeus Open Sing Is a Hit Hail, the conqu'ring heroes! Zamir's first Open Sing of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus drew over 100 non-Zamirniks—from local cantors to community choristers to "only-in-the-shower" singers, as well as a large group of listeners. Stellar performances by soloists Karyl Ryczek, Lynn Torgove, Charles Blandy, and David Kravitz added to the excitement of community music making. Instrumentalists Mark Emery, trumpet, and Bruce Ronkin, wind synthesizer, joined pianist Edwin Swanborn, Zamir's longtime accompanist, to create a glorious orchestral sound.
"I've participated in open sings," said honorary board
member Sheila Decter of the December 3
event at
Temple Reyim in Newton. "But it was great to be able
to do so with a libretto that was based on my own
religious experience. It's a great way to celebrate our
own musical tradition."
Zamir alumni and families gathered afterwards for a lively dinner celebration (pictured) organized by Joni Schockett, chair of Zamir’s Alumni Association. Many thanks to Phyllis and Michael Hammer, who made the Sing possible. Sundays in the Concert Hall with Zamir
Congregration Beth Israel of Worcester hosted Zamir on December 3 at Clark University's Atwood Hall. The spirited concert, which featured repertoire from Zamir's vast playlist, included selections from our upcoming recording, Psalmsensation, and solo offerings from the temple's Cantor Marina Shemesh. Guest clarinetist and board member Bruce Creditor and percussionist Taki Masuko also contributed their talents. A Hanukkah Double Feature on December 17! In the afternoon, Zamir was invited to perform a holiday program in the Koch Gallery at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Dozens of culture lovers attended the hour-long set, which included a spontaneous rendition of Salamone Rossi's "Halleluyah," Zamir's signature song for resonant venues. That same evening, the chorus presented "Songs of Israel" at Temple Emanuel's Hanukkah Happens XVII in Newton. The enthusiastic crowd, many of whom were headed on a two-week trip to Israel, enjoyed familiar tunes like "Oseh Shalom" and "Finjan" as well as compositions by composers Tzvi Avni and Eric Whitacre. Save the Dates—and More! Mark your calendars for our gala spring concert at Sanders Theatre, June 3, 8:00 pm, with guest artists Kol B'Seder. Details to come in our spring edition of E-Notes. Other Upcoming Concerts:
Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 pm: Yom HaShoah
Concert at Merrimack
College, Andover Want Free Tickets? Become a "Friend of Zamir" We need extra hands! Take tickets or distribute programs at our self-produced concerts. Or post fliers at your synagogue or in your community and receive a free ticket to one of our concerts. To volunteer, please contact Barbara Gaffin, Managing Director.
Keep in Touch! Let us know what you're up to — we love hearing from our friends near and far. If you would like to bring Zamir to perform a concert in your community, or to learn more about upcoming events, please contact us! Barbara Gaffin, Managing Director, and Deborah Sosin, E-Notes Editor
Zamir Chorale of Boston
email:
[email protected]
phone:
(617)244-6333
web:
http://www.zamir.org
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Scores of
children danced and tooted their
complimentary Zamir kazoos during "Zing! An
Interactive Children's Concert" on November 19
at Temple Israel of Natick. Families, including many
first-timers, joined in rounds, call-and-response
tunes, and musical demonstrations, enjoying the
ruach that is Zamir's hallmark.
