Synagogue Music > Activities

2008

Voices in harmony
An evening of great Jewish, Cantorial, Choral and Broadway music
Sun 7 December, 7.30pm

Reaching the Soul
What Is Prayer in the 21st Century?
London, Sunday 2- Tuesday 4 November, 2008

3rd JMI European Cantors Convention
London, Tuesday 8 - Thursday 10 July 2008
a 3 day gathering for cantors and those involved with leading prayer
Tuesday 8 July 9.30am to Thursday 10 July 5.30pm 2008
presented by Tephilharmonic
Central Synagogue, 40 Hallam Street, W1W 6NW
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Julian Klein Memorial Concert
Monday 7 July, 7.30pm
Naftali Herstik accompanied by Raymond Goldstein is joined by participating cantors in a memorial concert to Rabbi Julian Klein who died suddenly last year.
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Musical tool-kit for the High Holidays in the Progressive Tradition
London, Monday 16 - Thursday 19 June 2008
A four-day course to give real support to people who find themselves responsible for music in the synagogue and may not be music specialists. With Cantor Josée Wolff (Hebrew Union College New York), Stephen Glass, Zöe Jacobs, Vivienne Bellos
Rabbis: Mark Solomon, Mark Goldsmith and Sybil Sheridan
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7-week course on Nusach Hatefilla
London, 23 January - 5 March 2008
Registration Form

2007

Synagogue Song
6 - 8 November 2007

A three-day three-part adventure in the music of the Jewish soul with internationally renowned Cantor Sol Zim of New York discovering and refreshing the musical traditions of the Jewish People for all congregations

part 1
Gala Concert Tuesday 6 November, 7.30pm
St John's, Smith Square, SW1

part 2
Synagogue Song Seminar 7 - 8 November 10am- 8pm
SOAS University of London

part 3
Reception Thursday 8 November, 7.00pm
House of Commons
hosted by Lord Janner of Braunstone QC

Presented by the Jewish Music Institute in partnership with the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy

More details...

Register now: Word document or PDF document

Monday 2 July – Thursday 5 July 2007

Progressive Summer Programme:
Shalosh R'galim –Three Pilgrim Festivals
A four-day intensive workshop for synagogue musicians on the music of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot.
Daily 10.30am – 5.30pm
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The 2nd JMI European Cantors Convention
London, Tuesday 19 - Thursday 21 June 2007
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Wednesdays 8, 15, 22 and 29 November 2006
8.00pm – 10.00pm
Aspects of the Cantor's Art
Central Synagogue, 36 Hallam Street, W1N 6NW

Techniques for Prayer Leading – that are not taught in Cantorial School . A series of 4 talks/workshops for cantors and those interested in the cantorial art by Cantor Joseph Levine, Philadelphia

Singing the sacred chant of the synagogue – no matter of which denomination – to certain melodic and rhythmic modes, offers the solace and stability of long standing Jewish tradition in the midst of our rapidly changing lives. 

Starting 8th November, in four weekly sessions, Joe Levine the distinguished cantorial scholar from Philadelphia, will examine with us what it is about the famous cantors of the Golden Age – that makes their renderings both timeless and timely, on the theory that ancient ways may yet have something to teach us….

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Listen to over 100 teenagers of the JMI Jewish Youth Choir Network including JFS School, and the Jewish Youth Choir perform together, and in individual groups, accompanied and directed by internationally acclaimed Choral Director, Stephen Glass of Montreal, introducing modern Jewish songs and music and to wide public in celebration of 350 years of British Jewish life.

All seats £12 (children under 16, any seat  £6.00)
Royal Festival Hall Box office 08703 800 400 or www.rfh.org.uk

Presented by Jewish Music Central - a collaboration between the Jewish Music Institute and Central Synagogue, in association with the Zamir Choral Foundation, New York.

Supported by the Jewish Chronicle

Cantors of international standing and the magnificent Choir of London, bring the best of Jewish male-voice song to the music loving public of Britain.

More than a dozen cantors from across the world including those of international standing, Naftali Herstik (Jerusalem), Alberto Mizrahi (Chicago) and Shmuel Barzilia (Vienna) with the gentlemen of the magnificent Choir of London, accompanied and directed by internationally acclaimed choral and cantorial director, Stephen Glass of Montreal, dip into the treasure trove of Jewish prayer and psalm settings known and loved in Britain. Hear gems by some of the legendary European cantor-composers from 19th and early 20th century and favourites from Britain's famous 'Blue Book'. Experience also how modern composers are presenting Hebrew psalms and hymns today.

Alberto Mizrahi, Chicago
Shmuel Barzilai, Vienna
Arie L Subar, Montreal

Join leading British Cantors:
Gedalya Alexander, Finchley
Robert Brody, Kenton
Avromi Freilich, HampsteadGarden Suburb
Moshe Haschel, St John's Wood
Jeremy Lawson, New West End
Steven Leas, Central
Avrom Levin, London 
Adam Musikant, Lauderdale Road
Stephen Robins, WoodsidePark
Lionel Rosenfeld, Western-Marble Arch
Brian Segal, Palmers Green

And the gentlemen of the Choir of London

Musical Director Stephen Glass

£25,  £20,  £15 (concessions £2.00 off each ticket for seniors, children and students or for groups of 10 or more)
Special price for attending both JMC concerts on this day £30, £25,  £20
Royal Festival Hall Box office 08703 800 400 or www.rfh.org.uk

A Barry Weinberg Memorial Concert celebrating 350 years of Jewish life in Britain

Part of the first European Cantors Convention
Presented by Jewish Music Central - a collaboration between the Jewish Music Institute and Central Synagogue Supported by the Jewish Chronicle

Monday 27 June—Sunday 3 July 2005
Third JMI Barry Weinberg Jewish Choral Festival
Director, Stephen Glass Coordinators, Vivienne Bellos, Dan Jacobs

British and International choirs gather each evening in North London for massed choir rehearsals and masterclasses conducted by Stephen Glass and hosted by London’s leading choirs in venues across London, culminating in Choirs in Concert, two concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 3 July 4.00pm and 8.00pm. This course is guaranteed to enrich and inspire participants.  It is an excellent opportunity to learn new and interesting repertoire, enhance vocal and choral technique, build confidence, make new friends and network with choristers and musical directors
The Choral Festival is free for choirs. Advance registration is essential.

Two concerts featuring, the leading Jewish Choirs from the UK and abroad individually and combined, introduced and directed by internationally acclaimed, composer, arranger and choirmaster, Stephen Glass of Montreal
4.00pm Great Choirs of Today. Hear the contrasting styles and repertoire of London’s choirs introduced by Stephen Glass
8.00pm Voices in Harmony: Special traditional and modern repertoire will bring hundreds of singers together in Massed Male Voices and Massed Mixed Voices. This concert introduces for the first time to the Queen Elizabeth Hall stage, the London Massed Teenage Choir, all conducted by Stephen Glass.

Royal Festival Hall Box office 08703 800 400 or www.rfh.org.uk
Each concert £19.50, £16.50, £12.50
Special price for both concerts £29,50 £26.50, £19.50

JMI Cantorial Summer School Sunday
26 June—Thursday 30 June 2005
The High Holidays in the Orthodox Tradition

Steven Leas

Course Director, Stephen Glass (Montreal)
Course leader Cantor Arie L Subar (Montreal)
Coordinator, Steven Leas 2.00pm—9.30pm Central Synagogue, 36 Hallam Street, London W1
We look forward once more to welcoming Cantor Arieh L Subar, highly regarded as a master of interpretation of nusach to lead this course. Our aim is to make a meaningful contribution and give support to preparation for the coming High Holidays. Specially designed for practicing cantors in the orthodox tradition. Come and refine skills, share experience and learn some new music that is guaranteed to enhance the services in your synagogue.

Full rate: £130 students rate £90. Daily rate: £30

More detailed information can be found here

Monday 27 June—Thursday 30 June 2005
The High Holidays in the Progressive Tradition
A Four-Day High Holiday Intensive for Synagogue Musicians

Course Director, Cantor Josee Wolff (New York) 10.30am—5.30pm Leo Baeck College, The Sternberg Centre, 80 East End Road, London, N3
with the charismatic cantor Josee Wolf of New York you will explore liturgy and music for the Days of Awe, topics will include:
Liturgical texts for the High Holidays
Congregational High Holiday melodies 
Choral repertoire for the High Holidays
The basic unaccompanied chant (Nusach) for the High Holidays

This course is open to anyone involved in leading synagogue services  (such as choral directors, singers, soloists, choir members, accompanists), and will use texts from the various progressive machzorim (RSGB, ULPS, Masorti, and others). 

Full rate: £130 students rate £90. Daily rate: £30
Registration and more details Tel: 020 8909 2445 e-mail: jewishmusic[at]jmi.org.uk

Thursday 18 December 2004, 7.45pm
It’s Chanukah!

Massed male voices
Massed mixed voices
Massed children’s and teenage voices
Soloists
Conductor, Stephen Glass

Join more than 200 singers, including members of London’s most celebrated Jewish choirs in a family entertainment with an eclectic mix of music for the Jewish Festival of lights. Old favourite songs about candles, dreidles, doughnuts and latkes as you have never heard them before as well as new songs, chosen, composed or arranged by the charismatic and inspirational Stephen Glass of Montreal. Enjoy an evening resounding with sweet voices in music ranging from classical through pop and contemporary, to the most traditional Jewish liturgical music. Even the audience is sure to end up singing!
A Barry Weinberg Memorial concert, the culmination of the Second JMI Barry Weinberg Jewish Choral Festival
Supported by the Barry Weinberg Fund for Jewish music and the Jewish Chronicle.
Queen Elizabeth Hall, the South Bank, London SE1
JMI School of Jewish Liturgical Music

Sunday 20 – Thursday 24 June 2004 10.00am—5.30pm
Cantorial Summer School
SOAS University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

International Faculty of Cantors from USA, Canada and Israel
Course Director, Stephen Glass,
Course leaders Cantor Arie L Subar (Montreal) Cantor Josée Wolff (School of Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York)
Guest lecturers Cantor Naftali Herstik (Jerusalem/Tel Aviv), Cantor Alberto Mizrahi (Chicago)

For the first time in London a Summer School devoted to the traditional modes and melodies of the synagogue – for Sabbaths, Pilgrim Festivals, High Holydays, weekdays and Jewish weddings in the Ashkenazi (Eastern and Western European) tradition - for people of all backgrounds and traditions from very beginners to even the most experienced service leaders. Come and learn/brush up/refine/improve/develop/broaden/increase your skills and learn some new music that is guaranteed to enhance the services in your synagogue. There will be opportunities for problem solving. The focus will be on repertoire and technique as well as interpretation of the text and congregational participation. It takes place at London University, in the heart of Bloomsbury. This course is a ‘must attend’ for anybody leading services on the High Holydays or who is occasionally called upon to lead Sabbath or Holiday Services. It is also for those new to the genre. (Fluency in Hebrew, knowledge of the liturgy and written musical notation will be an advantage)

16—26 June 2003
First JMI Barry Weinberg Jewish Choral Festival in London
Supported by the Jewish Chronicle and the Barry Weinberg Fund for Jewish Music

For ten days in June, London will resound with synagogue choral music, when renowned music director, Stephen Glass makes a long awaited visit. Stephen will run workshops and masterclasses on all aspects of choral singing repertoire and technique as well as inspire both singers and choirmasters. Each evening session will be hosted by a well known London choir such as The Zemel Choir, The Alyth Choral Society, The Neimah Singers and the London Jewish Male choir who will welcome all singers to join them for the Festival. During the daytime Stephen will be available to go into schools and to work with teachers and children.

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