Geraldine Auerbach MBE

GERALDINE AUERBACH MBE GETS ANOTHER ACCOLADE

What have Michael Palin and Geraldine Auerbach got in common? Yes, they both have determination to overcome obstacles, they are both go getters, energetic, optimistic. But they share something else - this July each of them became Honorary Fellows of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the London University!!

I was privileged to be one of 20 guests who were invited by Geraldine to accompany her to her graduation. What a fantastic and memorable day it turned out to be.

We were all invited to the office of the Principal at 9am for tea and cake in order to watch Geraldine being robed for her big entrance to Logan Hall at 10. And very grand she looked too. There was also a slap up lunch for all of us after the big event.

The graduation was a most impressive affair. Graduates, postgraduates and their families filled this prestigious hall and were entertained to several bouts of ethnic music in between speeches and the handing out of degrees. The University had chosen Sephardic songs for her section.

I would like to quote from the words of Professor Keith Howard, Head of the Music Department:
'Geraldine Auerbach, MBE, is 'a force of nature and a tremendous visionary, a magnificent plate-spinner, darting one minute from a new performance of a Holocaust opera at the Wigmore Hall to a Yiddish cabaret at the Yiddish Hoyz. Commissioning works, creating teenage choirs, sponsoring Ukranian violinists, bringing over portly Canadian Chazanim, her remit and impact go far beyond the modest resources of the organisation that she leads'. These words by the journalist Rachel Lasserson capture so much about Geraldine, whose energy, enthusiasm, and talent for making things happen are legendary.

Her inspiration and untiring efforts enabled the Joe Loss Lectureship in Jewish Music to be set up in the early 1990s, first at City University, and since 1999 at SOAS. The inauguration of the Lectureship at SOAS was presided over by Yehudi Menuhin - in his last public engagement before his untimely death.

Since 2000, the Jewish Music Institute has been based at SOAS, where its library works closely with the SOAS Library to ensure that we have access to one of Europe's most significant collections of materials on Jewish music. It has hosted or co-hosted, and continues to host, a number of conferences and symposia at SOAS. It promotes klezmer classes for SOAS students. Linked to the SOAS World Music Summer School, it runs KlezFest, an amazing annual jamboree masquerading as a summer school that has been held at SOAS, at the West London Synagogue, and in London's Royal Parks.

The Jewish Music Institute created an International Centre for Suppressed Music in 1999, which recently held an international conference at Senate house bringing together 100 delegates to deliberate on the impact of Nazism on 20th century music.

JMI has also created a Forum for Israeli Music that will introduce the music of Israeli composers to British musicians and audiences.

He ended with the words: In 2000 when Geraldine was awarded the MBE, Chris Smith, then Secretary of State for Culture wrote: 'This is a well deserved tribute to your role in raising the profile of Jewish music and culture both in this country and abroad. Your success in involving young people and helping to introduce Jewish music and culture to thousands of people is a testament to your expertise, popularity and perhaps most importantly - enthusiasm.' These words are equally apt today as SOAS awards Geraldine Auerbach this Honorary Fellowship.'

Geraldine answered in her typical upbeat manner, speaking fluently about her pride not just for herself but for all those who had been involved with building up the Jewish Music Institute to where it is today. As always she thanked everyone for everything. She stressed as Yehudi Menuhin had done, that Jewish music was a means of dialogue with many nations, and that SOAS, with its diversity of nationalities, was a wonderful place to continue that dialogue.

We can all take pride in the amazing achievements of one of our members who has built up something from nothing, for which she has been recognised by being given a Queen's award and a fellowship of a prestigious London University.

May you be spared for many healthy and successful years, Queen Midas - the one who turns to gold everything she touches. See SOAS website for more about the honorary awards. http://www.soas.ac.uk/news/newsitem45446 .

Sylvia Lewin, Vice President of Jewish Music Institute Life President of Bnai Brith