I first learned about the Zamir Chorale when, as a teenager, my parents took me to see their concert in Town Hall. I was captivated by the high quality of their performance, their passion, the spirited leadership of the conductor, and the dozens of cute girls. I resolved that, if I could get in, I would sing in the choir myself. I began singing in the Zamir Chorale in 1967 as a high school senior, and continued for nine years, until I moved out of New York. This was a formative experience for me, as it was for many of my fellow singers. I learned a Jewish music repertoire of the very highest quality. I met and interacted with Jewish college kids very different from me, whom I would never have had anything to do in another Jewish organizational setting, such as Hillel, and this propelled me to become a committed pluralist. I learned music history and theory and sight singing and vocal production, and this turned me into a competent musician. I learned to blend with other voices, singing in harmony and breathing in unison - an unparalleled lesson in cooperation. I learned that I could be a leader without being charismatic, just by knowing my part well and singing confidently, in a way that helped others around me. I was transformed. Within a few years, I was honored, and shocked, to be asked to be a section leader, and then business manager, and eventually - amazingly for a non-music major like me - assistant conductor. I was inspired by my experience in Zamir to take a handful of music courses in college, and I used the vast knowledge of Jewish music I had gained through Zamir to write my doctoral dissertation in religion and education: "The convergence of Jewish and Western culture as exemplified through music: Some educational consequences." My daughter joined HaZamir: the International Jewish High School Choir, sponsored by Zamir, less than a year ago, and she is now learning and growing as a singer and as a Jewish young person in ways I vividly remember having experienced 40 years ago. I am now privileged to serve Zamir as president of its board.
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- EIN 13-6217087
- (212) 870-3335
- 475 Riverside Dr Ste 1948 New York NY 10115-1900 USA
- www.zamirchoralfoundation.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Judaism, Religion, Singing & Choral Groups
Mission: The zamir choral foundation, the premier jewish choral organization in the world, touches the lives of thousands of participants and audience members each year, inspiring jewish life, culture, and continuity through the sharing and teaching of jewish choral music.
Programs: The zamir choral foundation, created by matthew lazar, promotes choral music as a vehicle to inspire jewish life, culture, and continuity. Building on the success of the zamir chorale, the first modern hebrew-singing choir in north america, mr. Lazar sought an expansive vision that went beyond the activities of any single choir - one that fostered jewish identity across generational and denomonational lines. Today, the zamir choral foundation is at the center of a growing movement that preserves and fosters jewish identity through jewish choral music.
the zamir choral foundation presents two annual choral festivals. During the summer, the north american jewish choral festival brings together hundreds of adult lovers of jewish choral music,professional and amateur singers and conductors, and listeners for five days of performances and celebration of jewish culture, especially jewish music. Our spring festival brings together hundreds of teen singers from across the us and israel, all members of the various chapters of hazamir: the international jewish highschool choir. This festival culminates in performances at lincoln center and carnegie hall. The zamir chorale, an adult choir celebrating its 56th year, performs in various venues and major concert halls in new york city. Our newest ensemble, zamir noded, was created to serve the 18-30 year-old demographic. It bridges the age gap between the teens of hazamir and the adults of the zamir chorale. The jeanne r. Mandell fund for new music, the commissioning arm of the foundation, is responsible for adding 1-2 new compositions a year into the jewish choral repertoire.