Alumni News
A group of alums shared ideas and strategies for Zamir's future at a post-Open Sing dinner on December 2. Led by board co-chair Alan Teperow ("Tep"), the Alumni Association is preparing for the 2008-09 season, including plans to honor Larry Sandberg at next December's Open Sing. Longtime (really longtime!) tenor, merchandise manager, and concert manager, Larry is Zamir's all-star mensch and go-to guy.
Plans also are underway for an evening of socializing and singing the evening before our spring concert on June 1.
Watch for details!
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Dear Friend of Zamir,
Need a break from winter colds and political drama? Catch up on our 39th season and get ready for an exciting few months of music-making, culminating on June 1 with "Wild Peace: A Gala Concert for Israel's 60th" at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. |
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Upcoming Concerts
Israeli Favorites at Leibel's "Library Loft" on March 30
 Join Zamir and Israeli Consul General Nadav Tamir for a musicale and Middle Eastern fare at Leonard (Leibel) Fein's one-of-a-kind "library loft" in Boston. A prominent writer, teacher, and music lover, Leibel (pictured above) is founder of Moment magazine, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
Sunday, March 30, 2008, 7:00 pm
134 Beach Street, Boston (Leather District)
Suggested donation: $50 per person.
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Wild Peace: A Gala Concert for Israel's 60th
including a special
tribute to Joyce Bohnen, former board chair and
alumna
Mark your calendars now! Zamir's annual spring concert will feature the premiere of Like Wildflowers, Suddenly, a stunning oratorio for chorus and orchestra--music by Cantor Charles D. Osborne, libretto by Cantor Aryeh Finklestein (Souls on Fire, Kings and Fishermen). Based on the poem "Wild Peace," by Yehudah Amichai, the piece evokes the passion and longing of Israel since her birth in 1948. Also on the program are works by Israeli composers Naomi Shemer, Marc Lavri, and Israel Prize-winner Yehezkel Braun.
Zamir alumna and former board chair Joyce Bohnen will be honored for her inspiring leadership and commitment to the Jewish community and to Jewish education.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
8:00 pm
Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
Tickets will go on sale at the end of April.
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A Very Jazzy Thanks to Our Friends
When you think "Jewish music," you automatically think "tuba and banjo," right? Well, maybe not exactly. But over 50 of Zamir's major donors were treated to a rollicking evening on January 17 as 12 members of the Chorale joined a hot jazz trio to rewrite the genre, at least for one night.
 Hosted by Drs. Eli and Carolyn Newberger in their magnificent Brookline home, the swinging soiree opened with a choral set led by Artistic Director Joshua Jacobson. Next up, improv and blues from the very jazzy Eli Newberger on tuba, Jimmy Mazzy on banjo, and Ted Casher on clarinet and sax. Guest pianist Eyran Katsenelebogen added his pyrotechnic take on tunes such as "Those Were the Days." Both groups pulled out all the stops for "Ba Mir Bistu Sheyn" and "And the Angels Sing" to top off the night, which ended with a sumptuous reception and smiles all around.
Pictured at top: Zamir singers (back row) Sue Carp-Nesson, Michael Krause-Grosman, Larry Sandberg
(front row) Deborah Melkin, Susan Rubin, Deborah West
Middle photo: Zamir Co-Chair Peter Finn, Dr. Eli Newberger, Joshua Jacobson, Zamir Co-Chair Alan Teperow
Bottom left: Zamir board members Louise Citron (left) and Rachel Goldstein (right)
Photos courtesy of Mickey Goldin |
Save the Dates!
Sunday, April 13, 7:00 pm
Temple Beth David, Westwood
A classic Zamir smorgasbord, featuring the temple's cantor (and Zamir alumna) Louise Treitman
Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 pm
Jewish Day School Choral Festival
Watertown High School, Watertown
Second annual Kol HaNeshama concert with local student choirs and Zamir
Wednesday, May 21, 7:30 pm
Lecture/Concert at Hebrew College, Newton
Composer Cantor Charles D. Osborne and librettist Cantor Aryeh Finklestein join Joshua Jacobson and Zamir for a discussion and sneak preview of the new oratorio, Like Wildflowers, Suddenly.
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Winter Roundup
Choristers from Around Boston Attend Open Sing
After the success of our first Open Sing in 2006, Zamir expanded the experience for the December 2 program at Temple Reyim in Newton. Joshua Jacobson led an "instant ensemble" of over 100 voices in choruses from Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, offering program notes that added context and depth to the powerful music. Singers from throughout the Boston choral community--and dozens of observers--participated.
The second half featured Leonard Bernstein's beloved Chichester Psalms, with Frederick Metzger, boy soprano; Edwin Swanborn, piano; and Robert Schulz, percussion. The shimmering "Hinei Ma Tov" that closes the work expressed perfectly the spirit of the day--"How wonderful for humankind to dwell in unity."
Special thanks to Phyllis and Michael Hammer for underwriting the event.
Zamir Returns to Boston's "MFA for the Holidays"
Zamir was invited for the second year to represent Jewish choral music at the Museum's annual holiday concert, held in the resonant Koch Gallery on December 5. The art-loving audience enjoyed a lively Hanukkah program and a taste of Zamir's wide-ranging multicultural repertoire.
"Hanukkah Happens" on December 24
The pews were packed again for the 18th annual holiday concert at Newton's Temple Emanuel on December 24, this year featuring the synagogue's own Cantor Elias Rosemberg. Joshua Jacobson's lush orchestrations for works such as Lewandowski's "Mah Tovu" filled the sanctuary. Other highlights included Machtenberg's "Shehecheyonu" and Schorr's "Sheyiboneh Beys HaMikdosh" as well as Sephardic melodies such as "Yom Zeh LeYisrael" and "Yismach Mosheh."
Pictured: Cantor Elias Rosemberg; Arlyn Schneider, HH coordinator; Joshua Jacobson
Reaching Out to Seniors
In keeping with our mission to bring quality Jewish music into the community, Zamir performed our annual winter concert for residents at Hebrew SeniorLife on Sunday, February 24. Audience members enjoyed Israeli tunes and Yiddish favorites as well as contemporary songs. To close the program, the chorus scattered throughout the sanctuary for "Hatikvah," singing directly to one or two residents, and touching the hands and hearts of all assembled.
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Keep in Touch!
Let us know what you're up to--we love hearing from friends near and far. If you would like to bring Zamir to perform a concert in your community, please contact us!
Barbara Gaffin, Managing Director
Deborah Sosin, Editor,
E-Notes
www.zamir.org
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