(Courtesy of Zamir Choral Foundation) The Zamir Choral Foundation has received a major gift to create the nation’s first institute to train conductors of Jewish choirs. The gift by Cantor Robert Lieberman and his wife Rabbi Vicki Lieberman fulfills the long-time dream of Matthew Lazar, founder and director of the Zamir Choral Foundation, to perpetuate excellent Jewish music and community by providing high-level professional training through the Jewish Choral Conducting Institute and its Lazar Fellowship.
“By auditioning and training the next generation of conductors, under the leadership of Maestro Lazar, the future of Jewish choral music and its impact on Jewish literacy into the next generation will not only be secured but expanded throughout the United States and Israel,” added Cantor Lieberman.
Each cohort of Lazar Fellows will consist of 12-15 conducting students from the U.S. and Israel who gather at intensive in-person retreats and workshops, monthly online and in one-on-one mentoring sessions with Maestro Lazar and guest presenters, and receive a Certificate in Jewish Choral Conducting upon completion of the program. Fellows will have placement opportunities through Zamir Choral Foundation’s network as well as the opportunity to start choirs in other communities.
The Foundation’s programming has already helped produce a growing network of multi-generational international Jewish choirs, including: 36 chapters of HaZamir: The International Teen Choir; the Zamir Chorale, the premiere Hebrew-singing choir in the U.S., based in New York; Zamir Noded, a choir for young adults; eight chapters of a preparatory program for 6th, 7th and 8th grade singers; and the North American Jewish Choral Festival, now in its 35th year.
“We are guided by an expansive vision of vibrant Jewish identity through the study and performance of Jewish music at the highest level of excellence,” said Matthew Lazar. “The Jewish Choral Conducting Institute will create a pipeline of talent to ensure a strong leadership cadre for the Jewish future.”
For further information regarding the Conducting Institute at Zamir Choral Foundation, visit zamirchoralfoundation.org.
