Zamir Choral Foundation

10/02/2026

This weekend, as we conclude the holiday season with Sh'mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we will once again add the Hallel service to our liturgy. Robbie Solomon's jazzy treatment of Ps. 113 is a decidedly more modern setting, but the "detour" in the middle reminds us of the sounds of the past; both have their places in the world of contemporary Jewish music.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir sings Hallelu, by Robert Solomon, arranged by Eleanor Epstein, at the 2026 HaZamir Gala Concert at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center with Dr. Marsha Bryan Edelman ( HaZamir Long Island and HaZamir Westchester), and Dr. Alan Mason (HaZamir Miami), piano. Soloists are Lisa Yasinov (HaZamir Long Island), Dor Kaminka (Conductor, HaZamir Los Angeles and Alumnus of HaZamir HaSharon) and Lily Novetsky (HaZamir Detroit).

09/29/2026

09/28/2026

The Jewish Choral Conducting Institute is the newest initiative of the Zamir Choral Foundation. The Institute was established with the generous support of Cantor Robert and Rabbi Vicki Lieberman, and fulfills a long held dream of director Matthew Lazar to create a program exclusively dedicated to training the next generation of conductors of Jewish choral music. JCCI is designed to immerse experienced conducting students in the wealth of Jewish choral repertoire. Conducting fellows receive individualized mentorship from Maestro Lazar and guest teachers, and attend regular online and in-person workshops and retreats. At the end of the two-year program, fellows graduate with a certificate of achievement in Jewish choral conducting.

Over the next couple weeks, we’ll be re-living some highlights from our summer programming with the inaugural cohort of JCCI!

09/25/2026

In addition to "dwelling" in our sukkot and waving the lulav and etrog, a primary injunction of the coming Sukkot festival is the command to "rejoice in your holiday." There is no better way to display our joy than to sing -- especially when the text says "Serve the Lord with happiness."

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sukkot Sameach!

Maestro Matthew Lazar conducts Zamir Noded in their performance of "Ivdu et HaShem" by Yonatan Razel, arranged by D. Ben-Ami at the North American Jewish Choral Festival.

09/18/2026

For many, "Avinu Malkenu" summarizes the entire Yom Kippur liturgy, as we implore "Our Father, Our King" to grant our wishes for the new year. Max Janowski's iconic setting captures all of the drama and urgency of our appeal for God's mercy. We were pleased to share it with the next generation by adding it to HaZamir's repertoire.

Shabbat Shalom and have an easy and meaningful Yom Kippur.

HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir performed Janowski's Avinu Malkeinu in 2016 with Hadas Sturman (HaZamir Beit She'an), conductor and Dr. Alan Mason (HaZamir Miami), piano. Soloists are Allison Abrams (HaZamir Manhattan), Juliana Lynch (HaZamir Baltimore), Yohji Daquio-Braude (HaZamir Providence), and Samuel Dylan Rosner (HaZamir Westchester).

09/16/2026

HaZamir singers from across Israel visited schools in Yerucham to share their music and welcome new singers. Community grows when we share our voices and invite new ones to join! Thank you, Eyal Nissim, for inspiring the next generation of HaZamir!

09/11/2026

We no longer need to rely on the "virtual choirs" that sustained us during the pandemic, but the performance of "Areshet Sefateinu" that we created then still stands as a testament to our love for the traditional melodies of our people and our drive to sing "together."

Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah - Let it be a year of health and harmony for all!

"Areshet Sefatenu," popularized by Yossele Rosenblatt (1881-1933), arranged by Elliot Z. Levine and performed by participants in the 31st annual North American Jewish Choral Festival held online in August, 2020.