JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE




A brief history of JMI See a summary of the first 25 years After the first Bnai Brith Jewish Music Festival in 1984 – a Trust was established in 1985 that has eventually become the Jewish Music Institute. The trajectory has been as follows: The London International Jewish Music Festival (established 1984) The JMI has pioneered a month long Jewish Music Festival in London with some of the world’s finest performers and interpreters of all kinds of Jewish music - klezmer, folk, jazz, liturgical and classical, in concerts on the South Bank, the Barbican and at other prime venues in London, and across the country. Ten Festivals have been presented with over 50 events in each; the last two opened by the then Minister of Culture Media and Sport, The Rt Hon Chris Smith and Lord Brittan Information Services (established 1985) JMI has met the growing demand from radio, television and film producers, writers, journalists, teachers, students and the general public for information and advice about Jewish music. The twice-yearly newsletter has brought regular news of Jewish music and related events to over 10,000 readers worldwide. Jewish Music Heritage Recordings (established 1985) JMI has built a catalogue of significant Jewish music on CD and cassette, including original recordings and historic re-issues: Bloch Performs Bloch (includes Schelomo and the Sacred Service conducted by Ernest Bloch himself: Gregori Schechter’s Klezmer Festival Band, Live at the South Bank (recorded by the National Sound Archive); Viennese Synagogue Music in the Age of Schubert: Salomon Sulzer and his Contemporaries (music of the cantor known as the ‘Father of modern synagogue music’); Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry, a Song Cycle (a restored text, sung in Yiddish). Jewish Music Distribution (established 1985) JMI set up with 5 cassettes and now helps promote Jewish Music Distribution, the only UK specialist in making available to the trade and the public, recorded and printed music of Jewish interest, with a catalogue of over 2,500 items. Grants and Scholarships (established 1985) JMI has helped students and scholars to attend conferences and study Jewish music abroad (China, Hungary, Lithuania, USA). Since 2000 JMI has granted 58 JMI Millennium Awards for projects in Jewish music throughout the country with funds from the National Lottery. JMI also give scholarships to attend JMI Jewish music summer schools, courses and conferences in the UK Performing Groups (established (1986) The Shabbaton Choir (1986) Gregory Schechter’s Klezmer Festival Band (1991) the Jewish Heritage Youth Choir (1995) and Shekoyokh Klezmer Ensemble (2002) have been established and promoted through the activities of JMI. The Joe Loss Lectureship in Jewish Music (established 1991) JMI helped to establish the Joe Loss Lectureship in Jewish Music 1991-1999 as part of the Department of Music at City University, London and from April 1999 at The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. This is the first full time Jewish music lectureship in a mainstream university anywhere in the world. JMI has assisted in the organisation and running of the Triennial London International Conferences on Jewish Music (1994, 1997, 2000)International Conferences and Summer Schools (established 2001) 3 international conferences have been held in London under the auspices of the Joe Loss Lectureship in Jewish Music and in conjunction with the Department of Music first at City University in 1994 and 1997 and the Third at SOAS University of London. JMI established its first Summer School at SOAS in 2001. This has grown in stature and popularity and now consists of three courses in Yiddish, Klezmer and Cantorial or Choral music and these are attended by hundreds of musicians who gain theoretical and practical training in Jewish music. Special events Kaddish for Terezin, world première, Canterbury Cathedral, (1986) Clifford's Tower Commemoration York (1990) A Taste of Milk and Honey South Bank Centre (1991) Sacred Music of Two Traditions, Yehudi Menuhin at St Paul's Cathedral (1995) A Celebration of Mendelssohn in Britain (1997) BBC Singers in Concert (April 1997) Inaugural event of Jewish Music studies at SOAS hosted by President of JMI Lord Menuhin (February 1999) with a public Lecture on The Beregovski Collection in Kiev Professor Israel Adler, Hebrew University, Jerusalem A celebration of Eastern European Jewish Culture Southbank Centre November 1997 Six sold-out events including literature, comedy (with Spike Milligan), Cantorial, Klezmer, Sephardi and Chamber Music November 1999. Tribute to Yehudi Menuhin. Six events at the South Bank Centre, Patron HRH Prince Charles introduced by Humphrey Burton CBE November 2000 Millennium Dome Jewish Culture Day 9 July 2000 28 acts on three stages. Thwarted Voices: Music Suppressed by the Third Reich 6 events including premiere of Max Brand's Opera, Maschinist Hopkins hosted by Barry Humphries at South Bank Centre November 2001 ‘Klezmer to Cabaret’ 6 events at the South Bank Centre November 2002 'Continental Britons - The Émigré Composers' Wigmore Hall June 2002 A day of Hungarian Jewish Culture film, ballet, orchestral concert and literary event at the South Bank Centre November 2003 Inauguration of the Jewish Music Library, founded by Doris and Bertie Black SOAS March 2003 Inauguration of the International Forum for Yiddish Culture, House of Commons August 2003 The Soul of the Fiddle, conference, concert and courses 2004 A celebration of Jewish songwriters Southbank Centre 2005 Support for the commemoration of the Myra Hess concerts, National Gallery 2006 Borsht to Broadway – musical theatre from the Bronx to the west end and Broadway Southbank Centre 2006 ‘The Gift of Music’ special 350th anniversary event. Round House 2006 'Simcha on the Square' in partnership with the Mayor of London Trafalgar Square 2006/7/8 ‘Kol Isha’, first concert in the UK for women cantors 2007 'Klezmer in the Park' in partnership with the Mayor of London and the Royal Parks 2009/10 Publications and communications Jewish Music Heritage Recordings (1984) Jewish Music Distribution (1985) Annual Newsletter (1993) Website (1997) Score of ‘Trust in the Lord’ by Ronnie Cass (2002) Publication of Yiddish play ‘The King of Lampedusa’ (2003) supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund		About JMI Links About JMI homepage How to get involved People at JMI Director Geraldine Auerbach MBE Contact JMI Past JMI projects and events Projects and Grants Jewish Music Performances Jewish Music Courses


The Jewish Music Institute is an independent Arts organisation based at SOAS, University of London. It is an international focus bringing the ancient yet contemporary musical culture of the Jews to the mainstream British cultural, academic and social life. Its programmes of education, performance and information highlight many aspects of Jewish music throughout the ages and across the globe for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.

Publications and communications