The Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir, conducted by Cantor Audrey Abrams, will begin its 2015-2016 season 12 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 in the downstairs music room at the Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd. S., St. Louis Park. The class will take place as part of the Yachad electives.
HaZamir is open to Jewish teens in grades eight through 12 who meet the HaZamir musical eligibility requirements. Auditions will take place on Sept. 20 after class. All new singers will need to audition and no preparation is necessary.
This Jewish musical youth movement provides a unique opportunity for Jewish teens of all denominations and backgrounds to sing sophisticated Jewish choral music in a fun, social environment. The Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter is part of the HaZamir network of more than 30 HaZamir chapters throughout the U.S. and Israel.
Individual chapters meet weekly in their local cities to learn a common repertoire, then gather together to polish and perform that repertoire at regional, national and international events, culminating in a gala concert with more than 350 performers from America and Israel.
Last year’s sold-out gala concert was in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. This year’s gala concert will take place on April 3, 2016, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
HaZamir also sponsors a highly selective honors choir — its Chamber Choir — consisting of approximately 50 American and Israeli members who are auditioned at an even higher standard than the larger ensemble. HaZamir Chamber Choir singers aspire to an even more challenging level of choral music and perform as an independent ensemble at the gala concert.
In addition, HaZamir offers a college credit program for high school juniors and seniors, accepted at more than 70 prestigious colleges and universities, and facilitates leadership among its teens through its Teen Leadership Initiative. This class is also being offered as part of the Yachad electives.
HaZamir is now in its 23rd year and is a project of the Zamir Choral Foundation, founded and directed by Matthew Lazar. For information, visit: www.zamirchoralfoundation.org.
For information on the Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter, contact Cantor Abrams at: aabrams@bethelsynagogue.org or 952-873-7317. For information on registration, contact Yachad at: info@yachadmn.org.
