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Zamir Choral Foundation Celebrates Jerusalem in Historic Concert at Lincoln Center on May 21

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In a concert filled with five centuries of music inspired by Jerusalem, and celebrating the ancient city’s role as the spiritual center of Judaism, the Zamir Choral Foundation presents a one-of-a-kind concert at Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Sunday May 21 at 3pm.

The concert, “Celebrate Jerusalem,” under the direction of Maestro Matthew Lazar, will feature more than 200 inter-generational voices drawn from three notable Zamir choirs, as well as appearances by two special guest soloists — the renowned Alberto Mizrahi and Netanel Herstik.

Two world premieres will be heard: one by Zamir’s composer laureate David Burger, “Shab’chi Yerushalayim (Praise Ye, Jerusalem),” and the other by noted composer Steve Cohen, “Al Rosh Simchati (Above my Chiefest Joy),” which is a musical dialogue between Psalms 122 and 137. Another Zamir commission, Randy Klein’s “Fanfare for Jerusalem,” will receive a coveted second hearing since its dazzling premiere sung by Zamir’s acclaimed HaZamir teen choir at the Metropolitan Opera in March.

Performing separately and together in a number of combinations will be the Zamir Chorale; HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir; and Zamir Noded. The concert’s uniquely eclectic program reflects a vast range of emotional, spiritual and historic connections of the Jewish people to Jerusalem, as we celebrate the city’s reunification fifty years ago.

Founded in 1990, the Zamir Choral Foundation is the only international music organization that promotes choral music as a vehicle to inspire Jewish life, culture and continuity. The brainchild of founder and director Matthew Lazar, the Zamir Choral Foundation is the driving force behind a growing network of Jewish choirs that foster Jewish identity and community across generational, denominational, and geographic lines. Its vision of a pluralistic Judaism embracing affiliated and non-affiliated Jews is recognized as an important magnet for Jewish renewal.

This vision is manifested through Zamir’s multi-generational programs, which include HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir (which launched in 1993); Zamir Noded, a young adult ensemble in New York City (established in 2013); The Zamir Chorale, an adult choir that performs internationally (established in 1960, it was brought under the umbrella of the Zamir Choral Foundation in 1990), and the North American Jewish Choral Festival (also established in 1990). The creation of new repertoire is supported by the Jeanne R. Mandell Fund for New Music, the commissioning arm of the Zamir Choral Foundation.

Now numbering 29 U.S. chapters and 6 Israeli chapters, HaZamir gives Jewish teenagers of different backgrounds the opportunity to develop strong communal values while singing first-rate Jewish choral music at the highest performance level. This distinguished ensemble, directed by Vivian Lazar, made its Carnegie Hall debut in a sold-out concert in March 2014. The 28th annual North American Jewish Choral Festival takes place this year from July 16 to 20.

“Celebrate Jerusalem,” a choral concert celebrating the eternal capital of the Jewish people, takes place on Sunday May 21, at 3pm, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, located at Broadway and 60th Street, in the Time Warner Center. Tickets, which go on sale April 19, range from $50 to $180 and can be purchased at the Jazz at Lincoln Center box office, by phone at Center Charge 212-721-6500, or online at www.jazz.org For more information call 212-870-3335, or visit their web site at: www.zamirchoralfoundation.org

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