|
Join Our List
|
|
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HONORS LARRY SANDBERG
|
Join Zamir alums for brunch and an afternoon of memories and celebration at 12:30 p.m. on December 7 as we mark Larry Sandberg's 36th year with Zamir and honor him for his passion, commitment and accomplishments in support of the chorus. The festivities will take place at Temple Reyim just prior to the Open Sing. What a day it'll be!
 |
| MEET THIS YEAR'S ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR AND MWE CONDUCTING FELLOW |
|
Zamir welcomes Lidiya Yankovskaya as this season's Assistant Conductor and Hinda Tzivia Eisen as our 2008-09 Mary Wolfman Epstein Conducting Fellow.
Lidiya graduated from Vassar College in May with a bachelor's in music and is working toward her master's degree in conducting at Boston University. She recently attended the Conductors' Institute at Bard College, studying with Maestro Harold Farberman; and Yale University's Norfolk Music Festival Choral Conducting Workshop, with Simon Carrington.
An accomplished musician and recipient of numerous awards and honors both in her native Russia and here in the U.S., Lidiya is a mezzo-soprano who, in addition to conducting, also plays percussion, violin, and piano.
Hinda is a senior at Boston University, majoring in religion, and is beginning her third season singing alto with Zamir. An alumna of HaZamir in New York, Hinda is the alumni coordinator for international HaZamir and conducted the a cappella choir at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and Wisconsin.
Of the internship opportunity, Hinda says, "Much of my spirituality within Judaism is very much oriented in the music I produce with others, and as such I have often felt like I wanted to craft my own 'midrash' with the music I sing." When she's not musically engaged, Hinda volunteers as a clown for many appreciative children!
The Mary Wolfman Epstein Conducting Fellowship was established in September 2000 by Scott Offen to train conductors in the area of Jewish choral music.
| |
|
Dear Friend of Zamir,
We're back, and we hope you had a relaxing and productive summer! Our 40th season is already in full swing and we have an exciting slate of Boston-area performances and joint concerts in store. Check out this season preview and read about our summer experiences and events. |
| 40TH-ANNIVERSARY SEASON PREVIEW |
|
|
Zamir Performs with Jerusalem Academy Choir at Northeastern's New Fenway Center
 We're kicking off the year on a high note, with a special three-choir concert at Northeastern University's beautiful new concert hall, The Fenway Center, on October 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Artistic Director Joshua Jacobson, who is also Director of Choral Activities at Northeastern, will conduct sets by NU's choir and Zamir, followed by a performance by the Jerusalem Academy Chamber Choir (JACC), considered one of the finest musical groups in Israel. For the finale, all three choirs will share the stage.
The JACC, comprised of 30 music students and led by Stanley Sperber, is also celebrating its 40th anniversary. Sperber, who was one of Josh Jacobson's counselors at Camp Yavneh, founded the Zamir Chorale in 1960 in New York and inspired Jacobson to form the Zamir Chorale of Boston in 1969. The JACC has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
For ticket information, click here.
Open Sing Back by Popular Demand
On Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 p.m., don't miss our third annual Open Sing at Temple Reyim in Newton. This year, in addition to favorite choruses from Handel's glorious Judas Maccabaeus, we will sing great synagogue motets by Renaissance master Salamone Rossi. Maestro Jacobson will offer fascinating historical background on this prolific composer. Singers of all abilities and listeners welcome! Vocal scores will be provided. Tickets available at the door only: Adults, $10; Students and Seniors, $8.
Zamir is grateful to Phyllis and Michael z"l Hammer for underwriting the Open Sing.
Hanukkah Happens at Emanuel
And mark your calendars for our annual Hanukkah Happens XIX on December 24, 7:30 p.m. at Temple Emanuel in Newton, featuring Jewish music from St. Petersburg, Russia. The Petersburg Society for Jewish Music was founded in 1908, the first organization dedicated to Jewish concert music. Zamir will perform a sampling of the extraordinary music emanating from this group, including works by Achron, Engel, Milner, Mussorgsky, Saminsky, Skliar, and others. Joining Zamir on the program are Emanuel's Cantor Elias Rosemberg and violinist Zina Schiff. Tickets may be purchased from Temple Emanuel (617-558-8100).
|
| STAY TUNED FOR CONCERTS IN 2009 |
|
Newton Choral Society and Zamir Join Forces
On March 8, 2009, at 3:00 p.m., Zamir and the Newton Choral Society join forces at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge for a concert featuring Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Mordecai Seter's Mo'adim (for double chorus), Randall Thompson's The Peaceable Kingdom, and Eric Whitacre's Five Hebrew Love Songs.
Stamford, Connecticut: Here We Come!
Other 2009 concerts include a March 15 trip to Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Connecticut (snow interfered last year). See our next edition for more details about what lies ahead!
|
| UNITARIAN GROUP EMBRACES JACOBSON'S "THE WORLDS OF JEWISH MUSIC" |
|
On August 7, at the Arlington Street Church in Boston, Joshua Jacobson received a standing ovation following his plenary talk, "The Worlds of Jewish Music," at the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network's annual meeting, which drew about 300 musicians from around the country. Jacobson offered an overview of the history and diversity of expression within the realm of synagogue music, including a discussion of how to understand the music in its various contexts: spiritual, cultural, and historical.
Accompanied by our own Ed Swanborn, the assembly sang about a dozen pieces, with Zamir's Larry Sandberg soloing on "Amen Shem Nora." Then Jacobson introduced the Niggun Bratslav, whose lyrics consist of ya ma ma ma.
"They sang with incredible devotion and spirituality," Jacobson said. "Here was this music composed in Poland more than 100 years ago for Hassidic Jews to sing at the end of Shabbat as an avenue for attaining spiritual transcendence. And here were 300 Unitarian musicians in Boston's Arlington Street Church singing that niggun and getting it. They will go back to their congregations and spread this wonderful music into the ears of folks who may have never heard of Zamir otherwise, who may never have heard great Jewish music before, who may never have had any positive associations with Judaism before." And that is part of Zamir's mission.
|
| BARUCH DAYAN HA-EMET: JODY WEIXELBAUM |
|
The Zamir family was deeply saddened by the loss of Jody Weixelbaum, who died on July 29 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Jody was a true nightingale, a member of the soprano section for 20 years, a gifted artist and photographer. She was blessed with perfect pitch and relentless passion for the causes she believed in, and for her friends and family.
Current and past members of the Chorale gathered to honor Jody at her funeral service, officiated by alumnus Cantor Scott Sokol, at Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham. At Jody's request, the assembled group sang Louis Lewandowski's "Enosh" and Gerald Cohen's "Adonai Ro'i" and offered heartfelt eulogies.
We extend our profound condolences to Jody's beloved husband and our friend, Mark Sugarberg, and her entire family. She will be greatly missed.
|
| KEEP IN TOUCH AND SHANAH TOVAH! |
|
| As always, let us know what you're up to--we love hearing from our friends near and far.
Wishing you all a Shanah Tovah--A Happy and Healthy New Year! 
Barbara Gaffin
Managing Director
Deborah Sosin
Editor, E-Notes
| |
|
|
|
