Practice, Practice, Practice—and Join HaZamir International Jewish Teen Choir

(Courtesy of HaZamir) HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, with members in 27 U.S. chapters plus 10 cities in Israel, will begin rehearsals in September. Next spring, hundreds of these young singers will gather together for a three-day festival, culminating in a gala performance at Carnegie Hall in New York on April 7. Teens are encouraged to join their local chapter for a rewarding experience of music, culture, leadership and friendship.

HaZamir was created in 1993 by Maestro Matthew Lazar of Zamir Choral Foundation as a platform for talented Jewish teens to sing great Jewish music at the highest standard of excellence. For 30 years, HaZamir has served as a training ground for a new generation of singers, conductors, composers and leaders, investing in young people so that they have a deeper understanding of the values, traditions and glory of Judaism and artistic expression. “We are more than a choir, we are an incubator for developing future leaders who find their voices and purpose,” said Matthew Lazar.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for these teens, as they express their Jewish identities through their love of music while building strong connections to peers from a range of cultural and economic backgrounds and levels of religious observance,” said Vivian Lazar, the director of HaZamir. “HaZamir teens perform on the world’s biggest stages, boosting self-esteem and allowing them to achieve great success.”

The International HaZamir choir is comprised of teenagers in grades nine-12 in Israel and the U.S., including the Israeli cities of Ashkelon, Beit She’An, Dimona, Gan Yavneh, Hod HaSharon, Jerusalem, Karmiel-Misgav, Ofakim-Merchavim, Tirat HaCarmel and Yerucham and American chapter locations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Bergen County New Jersey, Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Central New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, Long Island, Manhattan, MetroWest New Jersey, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Silicon Valley California, South New Jersey, Washington DC and Westchester County New York.

HaZamir alumnus JP summed up the unique benefits of the HaZamir experience: “HaZamir taught me invaluable lessons about unity, the power of the collective, Judaism, leadership and friendship. As I look back on this experience, the many memories, while all exciting and different, share a common denominator: HaZamir brings out the best in everyone.”

For additional information on HaZamir, email [email protected] or visit www.hazamir.org