Zamir Choral Foundation
The Zamir Choral Foundation (ZCF), founded and directed by Matthew Lazar, is the visionary, leading force in the Jewish world for sustaining and fostering the Jewish choral tradition. ZCF seeds the formation of Jewish choirs across North America; commissions new works of music; convenes thousands of singers, choral enthusiasts, top conductors, scholars and ensembles annually, cultivates relationships with Israeli singers and audiences, trains the next generation of choral singers and conductors and presents brilliant and beautifully sung performances in the great halls of New York, Israel and cities across the US.
The main programs of the Zamir Choral Foundation include:
HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir
HaZamir is a youth movement that welcomes Jewishly identified and musically talented teens from a broad range of cultural backgrounds and levels of religious observance. HaZamir offers high schoolers in 40 chapters across the United States and Israel the opportunity to learn and sing Jewish choral music at the highest musical standard and on the world’s greatest stages. In weekly rehearsals, regional gatherings, and the HaZamir International Festival, HaZamir teens study Jewish text and history, grow as leaders, cultivate a deep connection to Israel, and create enduring friendships that transcend geographic, political, social, and denominational differences. Together the singers of HaZamir create harmonious unity and long lasting connections, to one another and Judaism, through excellence in music.
HaZaPrep
The HaZamir Preparatory Program, the first Jewish choral preparatory program for 7th and 8th graders, “HaZaPrep” is designed to teach choral skills, music education, vocal production and proper Hebrew pronunciation in an environment that is fun and educational.
North American Jewish Choral Festival
Held each summer since 1990, the North American Jewish Choral Festival is the premiere Jewish choral event anywhere. It brings together singers and choirs from across North America and beyond with a renowned teaching staff of conductors, composers and other music professionals to sing, learn and share the joy of Jewish music. The Festival features five days of intensive workshops, study, performances, concerts, fun and friendship. Participants take part in daily community sings and “instant ensembles”, led by acclaimed conductors, which rehearse for four days and perform at a gala closing concert; evening concerts feature outstanding vocal ensembles, choruses and soloists. Workshops range from vocal and conducting techniques to the history of Jewish music and ritual. The Festival attracts amateur singers, professional soloists, cantors, conductors, educators and lovers of Jewish music for an unforgettable experience.
Held each summer since 1990, the North American Jewish Choral Festival is the premiere Jewish choral event anywhere. It brings together singers and choirs from across North America and beyond with a renowned teaching staff of conductors, composers and other music professionals to sing, learn and share the joy of Jewish music. The Festival features five days of intensive workshops, study, performances, concerts, fun and friendship. Participants take part in daily community sings and “instant ensembles”, led by acclaimed conductors, which rehearse for four days and perform at a gala closing concert; evening concerts feature outstanding vocal ensembles, choruses and soloists. Workshops range from vocal and conducting techniques to the history of Jewish music and ritual. The Festival attracts amateur singers, professional soloists, cantors, conductors, educators and lovers of Jewish music for an unforgettable experience.
Zamir Chorale
Founded in 1960 by Stanley Sperber and directed by Matthew Lazar since 1972, the Zamir Chorale is the leading voice of the Jewish Choral movement. The choir has won international acclaim for its superior performances, encompassing the full spectrum of four centuries and more of Jewish choral repertoire. It has commissioned and premiered works by contemporary North American and Israeli composers and has collaborated with music super stars such as Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and Daniel Barenboim in choral/orchestral performances. The Chorale has appeared with a diverse array of personalities including Elie Wiesel, Naomi Shemer, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Tom Chapin, Richie Havens, Danny Kaye, Theodore Bikel, Hershel Bernardi and Shoshana Damari. During its more than 50 years of creating Jewish harmony, the Zamir Chorale has thrilled tens of thousands and has set the standard for Jewish choral music in North America.
Founded in 1960 by Stanley Sperber and directed by Matthew Lazar since 1972, the Zamir Chorale is the leading voice of the Jewish Choral movement. The choir has won international acclaim for its superior performances, encompassing the full spectrum of four centuries and more of Jewish choral repertoire. It has commissioned and premiered works by contemporary North American and Israeli composers and has collaborated with music super stars such as Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and Daniel Barenboim in choral/orchestral performances. The Chorale has appeared with a diverse array of personalities including Elie Wiesel, Naomi Shemer, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Tom Chapin, Richie Havens, Danny Kaye, Theodore Bikel, Hershel Bernardi and Shoshana Damari. During its more than 50 years of creating Jewish harmony, the Zamir Chorale has thrilled tens of thousands and has set the standard for Jewish choral music in North America.
Zamir Noded
Zamir Noded is the newest initiative of the Zamir Choral Foundation, created to provide a high level musical opportunity for young adults to sing in a Jewish choir with like-minded peers. Zamir Noded is conducted by Maestro Matthew Lazar and has drawn singers from throughout the tri-State area and beyond, including alumni of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir and others who are attracted to this unique ensemble.
Zamir Noded is the newest initiative of the Zamir Choral Foundation, created to provide a high level musical opportunity for young adults to sing in a Jewish choir with like-minded peers. Zamir Noded is conducted by Maestro Matthew Lazar and has drawn singers from throughout the tri-State area and beyond, including alumni of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir and others who are attracted to this unique ensemble.
The Mandell Rosen Fund for New Music
Established by the late Phyllis and Richard Rosen z"l, the Fund is the commissioning arm of the Zamir Choral Foundation. It provides support for the commissioning of new works that are premiered every year by the various ensembles of the Zamir Choral Foundation. Thirty original pieces have been commissioned through the fund and have become part of the growing Jewish choral repertoire available to choirs worldwide.
Established by the late Phyllis and Richard Rosen z"l, the Fund is the commissioning arm of the Zamir Choral Foundation. It provides support for the commissioning of new works that are premiered every year by the various ensembles of the Zamir Choral Foundation. Thirty original pieces have been commissioned through the fund and have become part of the growing Jewish choral repertoire available to choirs worldwide.
Zamir Choral Foundation Missions to Israel
Since 1967 the Zamir Choral Foundation has regularly led missions to Israel that included musical programs, touring, and interacting with the citizens of Israel. In addition to encounters with Israeli choirs and other musicians, Zamir ensembles have performed in major concert halls, and for residents in a variety of settings, including programs for the elderly and at community centers across the country. The Zamir Choral Foundation is especially proud to have taken 3 missions to Israel in 2002-2003, at the height of the second Intifada, when tourism was at an all-time low, and when Zamir’s presence fostered bonds of friendship and support between the North American Jewish community and her brothers and sisters in the Jewish state. Zamir’s choral missions also include concert tours in celebration of major milestones in Israeli history. Our most recent mission took place in the summer of 2018 in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary and we are planning a mission for summer of 2023 to honor Israel's 75th anniversary.
Since 1967 the Zamir Choral Foundation has regularly led missions to Israel that included musical programs, touring, and interacting with the citizens of Israel. In addition to encounters with Israeli choirs and other musicians, Zamir ensembles have performed in major concert halls, and for residents in a variety of settings, including programs for the elderly and at community centers across the country. The Zamir Choral Foundation is especially proud to have taken 3 missions to Israel in 2002-2003, at the height of the second Intifada, when tourism was at an all-time low, and when Zamir’s presence fostered bonds of friendship and support between the North American Jewish community and her brothers and sisters in the Jewish state. Zamir’s choral missions also include concert tours in celebration of major milestones in Israeli history. Our most recent mission took place in the summer of 2018 in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary and we are planning a mission for summer of 2023 to honor Israel's 75th anniversary.
Choral Conductor Fellowships
The Zamir Choral Conductors Fellowship trains talented HaZamir seniors, HaZamir alumni and other musically eligible young people in the art of conducting and specifically in the Jewish choral art.