Over 200 adults and children will celebrate Chanukah,
the Festival of Lights, in concert, 3 P.M., Sunday, December 14, 2008 as
Congregation Rodeph Sholom of Manhattan hosts its unique, multigenerational Festival
of Choirs. The ninth annual concert will feature cantors and their volunteer adult
and children’s choirs from all over the New York metropolitan area. This year, the
first night of Chanukah is Sunday, December 21, 2008.
“There is nothing as special as seeing the young and the young-at-heart join
together in song to celebrate the festival of Chanukah,” according to Congregation
Rodeph Sholom’s Senior Cantor, Rebecca Garfein. “We are thrilled to present the
ninth annual Festival of Choirs to the New York community.”
Highlights of the concert will include the multigenerational 200-voiced combined
choir singing an arrangement of Peter Yarrow’s song (of Peter Paul and Mary
fame),“Light One Candle,” and the concert’s finale, “Bring on the Light,” a piece
by composer, singer and actor, Danny Maseng, that was commissioned by Congregation
Rodeph Sholom for the Festival of Choirs in 2001. Additionally, the combined
children’s choir will perform, “Raise up the Menorah” written by Rodeph Sholom
musician and congregant, Eliot Bailen and students from the Rodeph Sholom Day School
and Religious School.
A Festival of Choirs is free of charge and open to the entire community.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom is located at 7 West 83rd Street off of Central Park West
in Manhattan. For more information about this concert, please call 646-454-3039.
Cantor Garfein will be joined in concert by Rodeph Sholom’s Assistant Cantor, Shayna
Peavey and Student Cantors, Jennifer Strauss-Klein and Katie Oringel. Also
participating in the concert will be Cantor Angela Warnick-Buchdahl and Cantor
Elizabeth Sacks, Central Synagogue, Manhattan; Cantor Judith Rowland and Cantor Todd
Kipnis, Temple Shaaray Tefila, Manhattan; Cantor Janet Leuchter and Music Director,
Rose Moskowitz, Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, NY; Cantor Claire Franco,
Community Synagogue, Port Washington, New York; Cantor Fredda Mendelson and Music
Director, Jayson Rodovsky, Larchmont Temple, Larchmont, New York and Student Cantors
Arik Luck and Aaron Kaplan, Manhattan.
Accompanying the cantors and choirs will be Rodeph Sholom Organist and arranger, J.
David Williams. Joining Mr. Williams will be the “Festival of Choirs” combo: John
Hadfield, percussion, Susan Rotholz, flute, Eliot Bailen, guitar and cello and
Daniel Freeman upright bass.