Launching of National Cantorial Scholarship Initiative
On Thursday, November 12, 2009, legendary American Jewish composer,
singer, and recording artist, Debbie Friedman, will be the featured
performer at a concert to benefit Hebrew Union College – Jewish
Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and its School of Sacred Music (SSM).

“Debbie & Friends” will also include performances by The Afro-Semitic
Experience, HaZamir (the International Jewish High School Choir), The
Western Wind, HUC-JIR Alumni, Faculty and Students, as well as surprise
guests. All will be performing the music of the woman who the Jerusalem
Post has called a “phenomenon” and the New York Times has lauded for
creating “a powerful and euphoric body of work.”

In 2007, Debbie was appointed to the Faculty of the Hebrew Union College
– School of Sacred Music and the fact that the concert is a benefit in
support of HUC-JIR and the SSM is something that is of great importance
to her. “My love for the students of HUC-JIR is beyond what I can
describe,” she said, “and I will support them in any way that I can.”

The “Debbie & Friends” Concert will also launch the “Cantorial
Invest-in-a-Student Campaign.” Cantorial alumni are supporting the
education of their emerging colleagues and successors through this
initiative in which donors sponsor students for their five years of
study at HUC-JIR, from the Year-in-Israel through investiture. The
public is invited to support this important campaign.

Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR is the nation’s oldest institution of higher
Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional
leadership development center of Reform Judaism. The School of Sacred
Music at HUC-JIR in New York is the only Reform Jewish cantorial school
in North America and the nation’s oldest institution dedicated to
training cantors. Since its founding, the SSM has trained 451 cantors
who serve communities throughout North America, Israel and around the
world.

The November 12th concert will be held at
Central Synagogue in New York City
(Lexington Avenue at 55th Street)
at 6 pm.
To purchase tickets,
contact Maria Vento at 212-838-2660 ext.16 or
mvento@loreleievents.com.