About Kolot HaLev
About ten years ago I immersed myself in a project that is flourishing as we speak: the creation of Kolot HaLev, a Jewish community choir. Three main goals captured my attention:
A choir where everyone willing to sing is allowed to participate. Members are not required to audition. All of us have heard of the deep, sometimes permanent, damage inflicted to those individuals that love to sing but are told decisively that they are not good at it and they shouldn’t try. Our premise is that with enough love, dedication and guidance everyone in regular physical conditions can overcome musical difficulties and be able to enjoy singing.
Although Kolot HaLev is a community-based, volunteer organization, we adhere to high musical standards and ask that people who join share our commitment to upholding those standards. Formal voice or musical training are not expected in order to sing, though developing vocal skills in private study is encouraged.
(During COVID) Choir members currently rehearse every Thursday for one hour when they learn the repertoire along with vocal technique. COVID precautions are in place at rehearsals. A recording of each rehearsal is posted in a Dropbox site for the benefit of members who couldn’t attend. In addition, singers participate in a half-hour sectional rehearsal on alternate weeks, when we tackle specific problems the group needs to overcome including questions not covered at the main rehearsal. Choir members are also offered mp3 files with their parts to reinforce the learning of the musical material.
Kolot HaLev performs Jewish musical treasures from Jewish communities across the world. Generally speaking, the Jewish musical scene today covers a limited repertoire. In addition, very few quality musical arrangements are available for compositions originating in regions of the world other than North America. Kolot HaLev is actively filling the gap.
The choir performs music ranging from liturgical works to folk songs and gospel music sung in Hebrew, English, Yiddish, Ladino, Italian, Russian and Spanish (to date!). In the past few years alone Kolot HaLev concerts have focused on Russian, Israeli and Italian music both liturgical and secular. The 2017 Annual concert was devoted to Kol Isha—Jewish Women across the Times, when Schubert’s Miriam’s song of Triumph was premiered in the Washington DC area, including a brand new libretto.
(During COVID) Choir members currently rehearse every Thursday for one hour when they learn the repertoire along with vocal technique. COVID precautions are in place at rehearsals. A recording of each rehearsal is posted in a Dropbox site for the benefit of members who couldn’t attend. In addition, singers participate in a half-hour sectional rehearsal on alternate weeks, when we tackle specific problems the group needs to overcome including questions not covered at the main rehearsal. Choir members are also offered mp3 files with their parts to reinforce the learning of the musical material.
The Board
Karen Lantner, President
Mike Novey, Secretary
Roanne Pitluk, Treasurer
Board Members
Karl Kauffmann, at-large
Dara Kessler, at-large
Robyn Robbins, at-large
Estelle Schwalb, at-large
Scilla Taylor, at-large
Brad Winston, at-large
Sarah Hyams, ex-officio
Fran Levin, ex-officio
Ramón Tasat, Artistic Director