Josh Jacobson was recently invited to teach two classes at the annual Louis Lewandowski Festival, where he now serves as a board member. Zamir was thrilled to be a featured participant in the inaugural festival in 2011, but, according to Josh, "This year's festival was no letdown...The organizers of the festival go out of their way to promote Jewish culture and to preserve the music of the pre-war period." 

For photos and to read Josh's full article, visit Zamir's website, www.zamir.org.

Sunday, March 2, 4:00 pm, Congregation Mishkan Tefila, 300 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill: We are delighted to join Cong. Mishkan Tefila in honoring Cantor Aryeh Finklestein. The special program will feature the stunning oratorio Like Wildflowers, Suddenly, composed by Cantor Charles Osborne, lyrics by Cantor Finklestein. For more information: mishkantefila.org.

Sunday, March 9, 1:30-2:30 pm, Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton: Join us for our popular Open Sing, featuring favorite choruses from Handel's magnificent oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. Presented this year by the Newton Cultural Center, the event is open to singers from the Greater Boston area and beyond. Scores will be provided. Audience observers are welcome too! Details will be posted at: newtonma.gov/gov/parks/arts/Default.asp

Sunday, March 9, 5:00 pm, Solomon Schechter Day School, 125 Wells Ave., Newton: Yes! It's a Sunday double-header. After the Open Sing, hop across town to enjoy another tradition! Zamir will perform a set as part of the SSDS annual Children's Concert. Stay tuned for more details, coming soon.  

Three Viewpoints by  Marcia Cooper, recently on display at the Luckart Gallery

Sunday, April 6, 2:00 pm, Studzinski Hall, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine: Zamir will hit the road for a performance in Maine--a full-spectrum concert drawn from our far-ranging repertoire, including classical, folk, popular, jazz, and liturgical choral music from eight countries, composed over four centuries. For details, go to: bowdoin.edu/music/calendar/ or email [email protected].

Monday, May 19, 7:30 pm, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge:

Save the date for Zamir's annual spring concert, "Elijah Rocks." This multimedia presentation willl bring to life some of the great stories from the Bible. Experience the creation of the world; and the stories of Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, Moses and the exodus, Joshua at the walls of Jericho, Elijah with the fiery chariot, Shadrach in the fiery furnace, and more. Special guest: the incomparable singer/songleader Nick Page. This year, we are delighted to honor poet and arts activist Charles Coe, of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Zamir alumna and health executive Heather Zacker. Stay tuned for more details in our spring issue. Contact info: [email protected]

Songs with Rav-Hazzan Sokol 

On November 24, Zamir spent a fabulous afternoon at Temple Beth Sholom in Framingham, making music with last spring's honoree and Zamir alum, Rav-Hazzan Scott Sokol. The program featured multiple settings of "Adon Olam"; as well as selections from our Israeli, Yiddish, and jazz repertoire. Highlights included Scott's sublime rendition of "Avinu She-ba-shamayim," by Zim; and Secunda's "Pis'chu Li." The audience also enjoyed Anne Levy's Marlene Dietrich-inspired performance of "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss auf Liebe eingestellt," by Hollander, complete with cigarette holder and feather boa. Many thanks to Scott and the Temple Beth Sholom community for hosting! 

Ninety Is the New Seventy

On November 3, a chamber chorus from Zamir performed at the home of Paul and Nancy Dembling in Needham, Mass., to celebrate the 90th birthday of David Dembling, Paul's father. The group offered a smorgasbord of old favorites, including Elman's "And the Angels Sing," Nini's "Aval Ahava," Oakland's "Kaf� BeKef," and Rossi's "Adon Olam." Becky Wexler, clarinet; Taki Masuko, percussion; and Edwin Swanborn, piano, provided the lively accompaniment. The honoree, a Holocaust survivor, led the singers in Pokras's "Zog Nit Keynmol"; and, as shown here, danced with our "Ba Mir Bistu Sheyn" Andrews Sisters, Elana Rome, Anne Levy, and Sharon Brown Goldstein. Happy Birthday, and many more--bis 120 yor!

"Open Your Eyes" at Newton's Temple Shalom

On October 27, Zamir performed at Temple Shalom in  "Open Your Eyes, a concert postponed from last winter. Cantor Peter Halpern joined Zamir for several solos, including Hal�vy's "Min Hametsar." The Temple Shalom Choir joined Zamir to perform Cantor Halpern's setting of "Tov Lehodot." This concert was produced as part of the Anita Wyner z"l "Open Your Eyes" series. Anita was one of the temple's founders and a veritable celebrity in the community. Other highlights included Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs"; Lavri's "Emek," with Larry Sandberg, Deborah Melkin, and Susan Rubin; Schiller's "Halleluhu," with Louise Treitman; and Rutter's moving "The Lord Bless You."

Sacred Music at Saint John's Seminary

A week earlier, on October 27, Zamir's chamber chorus performed Jewish sacred music from many eras at Saint John's Seminary in Brighton. In the seminary's beautiful and acoustically glorious chapel, the singers offered three themes. First, "Sanctus/Kedusha," which included Bernstein's "Sanctus" from MASS and Bloch's "Kedusha" from Sacred Service. The next theme, "Psalms," included liturgical settings by Rossi and Hal�vy. For a set related to "Prayers," the repertoire included Lampl's lush "Adon Olam"; Rosenblum's "Untaneh Tokef," with Gilbert Schiffer, solo; Janowski's "Sim Shalom," with Cantor Peter Halpern; and Corigliano's "Forever Young," with Betty Bauman.

Photos by Lawrence Sandberg