Kolot HaDorot Concert Information for Participants
We are so honored you’ll be a part of this special Kolot HaDorot concert, and we are so excited to see you in just a few short weeks!
This is a VERY long message with lots of information so for the best possible viewing, open on a computer or tablet. Allow the entire message to load and please read the details carefully. Below are descriptions of the four participating choirs and links to the specific musical pieces assigned to each. You will also find a rehearsal schedule for each cohort.
Please check the spelling of your name. If it is incorrect, please email Susan ASAP. This list will be used for the program.
If you have a colleague who is planning on singing at the concert but is NOT listed below, please have them email Rachel, Susan, or Rebecca IMMEDIATELY! If you missed the Thursday, June 5 Zoom Meeting, click here for the link to the recording.
We also invite you to share our ticket sales link with your congregations, both near and far! If you are not near the DMV, we invite you to have your congregation host a "watch party" either together or separately. With watch party access, your congregants will receive the exclusive streaming link along with a PDF of the concert program. Watch party streaming sponsorships can be purchased via this link.
If you are more local to the DMV, please share our ticket sales link with your congregation! They can order tickets online and can also order the individual streaming link. Click here for the individual ticket sales website.
Choir Divisions:
Kolot Zahav
Kolot Zahav is a choir composed of first-generation female cantors, retired cantors, cantors serving in the field or ordained/certified before 1996, retired GTM members, and GTM members serving during that time frame. Unless listed elsewhere, this is where most people will be singing.
Conductor: Leigh Korn
Accompanists: Joyce Rosenzweig, Aryell Cohen
Dana Anesi Vicki Axe Kathy Barr Susan Berkson Jennifer Bern-Vogel Arlene Bernstein Suzanne Bernstein Susan Caro Richard Cohn Joel Colman Lori Corrsin Laura Croen Ellen Dreskin Linda Ecker Miriam Eskanasy Barbara Finn Robert Gerber Nancy Ginsberg Rita Glassman Elizabeth Goldman Frances Goldman Patricia Hickman Naomi Hirsch | Gail Hirschenfang Marcy Kadin John Kaplan Nancy Kassel Arthur Katlin Deborah Katchko-Gray Alane Katzew Teddy Klaus Menachem Kohl Sharon Kohn Allen Lieder Lisa Levine Jan Mahler Barbara Margulis Fredda Mendelson Jack Mendelson Rachelle Nelson Charles Osborne Barbara Ostfeld David Perper John Planer Marshall Portnoy
| Janice Roger Jessica Roskin Alan Rubenstein Sarah Sager Benjie Ellen Schiller Neil Schwartz David Serkin-Poole Judith Seplowin Nitzah Shamah Leon Sher Linda Shivers Michael Shochet Robbie Solomon Irving Neil Spenadel Howard Stahl Debra Stein Faith Steinsnyder Meredith Stone Ellen Sussman Avery Tracht Menorah Winston Josée Wolff |
Music [Link to music]
Pitchu Li (Robbie Solomon), accompaniment by Joyce Rosenzweig
Eitz Chayim, (Jack Gottlieb) accompaniment by Joyce Rosenzweig
L’dor Vador,(Meir Finkelstein) accompanied by Aryell Cohen
Shehecheyanu* (Lori Corrsin) accompanied by Judy Cole
Sh’ma B’kolah* the finale commissioned from and accompanied by Benjie Ellen Schiller
Additional Soloist for this section - Jill Abramson
Soloist for Shehecheyanu - Roslyn Barak
Choir A
Conductor: Enid Bootzin-Berkovits
Accompanist: Mike Zuspan
Singers
Lucy Fishbein Mary Thomas Shani Cohen Tracey Scher | David Reinwald Juval Porat Vlad Lapin Jason McKinney |
Music [Link to music]
Adonai S’fatai (Natalie Young),
Al Shlosha (Allan Naplan)
Psalm 146 (Solomon Rossi)
Shehecheyanu (Lori Corsin)-all
Sh’ma B’kolah (Benjie Ellen Schiller)-all
Choir B
Conductor: Leon Sher
Accompanist: Aryell Cohen
Additional Soloists: Rebecca Moses, Joanna Alexander, and Robert Gerber
Singers
Andrea Markowicz Sara Hass Mia Davidson Rosalie Toubes Laurie Akers Zöe Jacobs Rollin Simmons Chanin Rosen | David Berger Richard Newman David Wolff Mark Kamins Jason Zions Joel Colman David Rosen John Stefano |
Music [Link to music]
Sim Shalom (Max Janowski)
Mizmor (Yehezkel Braun)
Eili Eili (arr. Stephen Glass)
Shehecheyanu (Lori Corsin)-all
Sh’ma B’kolah (Benjie Ellen Schiller)-all
Additional Soloists for this section - Lori Corrsin, Joanna Alexander
The women of Choir A and Choir B are also singing:
Shamah Vatismach Tziyon (Katchko/Oysher)
Soloist:
Irena Altshul
Faith Steinsnyder
TBD (on Piano)
"DMV" Choir
The fourth choir is made up of local cantors from the DMV, Baltimore, and Columbia. This choir is singing the following and will rehearse prior to the convention.
Shiru Ladonai (Laurie Akers) accompanied by Joyce Rosenzweig
Miriam Han’via (Gerald Cohen) accompanied by David Lang
Shehecheyanu (Lori Corrsin)
Sh’ma B’kolah (Benjie Ellen Schiller)
Singers
Alexandra Marcus Allen Leider Jason Kaufman Laura Croen Lauren Adesnik Lindsay Kanter Lisa Levine Michael Shochet | Susan Bortnick Susan Caro Suzanne Hamstra Sydney Michaeli Ze’evi Tovlev Rachel Rhodes Rebecca Robins Teddy Klaus |
Small Ensembles
In addition to the Choirs several pieces are being performed by small groups, listed below. You will need to schedule your own rehearsal time. We (Sydney and Susan) would be happy to join your rehearsal should you wish for any support or an extra pair of ears!
Click here to schedule rehearsal time |
Shiru Ladonai (Laurie Akers)
Ellen Dreskin
Seth Warner
Lindi Rivers
Josh Breitzer
Erin Frankel
Joyce Rosenzweig (on Piano)
Ozi V’zimrat Yah (Becky Mann)
Isaac Sonnett-Assor
Lucy Fishbein
Chanin Rosen
Becky Mann (on Guitar)
V’yoch Tyoch Tyoch (Abraham Ellstein)
Nancy Kassel
Meredith Stone
Judy Cole (on Piano)
Ivdu Et HaShem (Rockoff/Heller)
Susan Bortnick
Sydney Michaeli
Judy Cole (on Piano)
Rehearsal Schedule
All schedule information will be in Guidebook (with the exception of the in-person rehearsal). Please download the app. Updates will be made there and if you have this on your phone, you will get notifications.
Please note: if you have already signed up for a Tuesday afternoon tour and it conflicts with your rehearsal schedule, please go back to the Sign Up form and change to a different tour time. Each tour is offered twice to accommodate scheduling.
Date and Time | Location | Choir |
June 18 at 1-2:30 p.m. | Host Congregation | DMV Choir |
Tuesday, July 1 from11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Presidential Ballroom (immediately following workshops and before lunch) | All Convention participants - Shehecheyanu and Sh’ma B’Kolah, Roslyn Barak |
Tuesday, July 1 from 12:30-2:15 p.m. | Federal A Ballroom | Kolot Zahav Jill Abramson |
Tuesday, July 1 from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. | Federal A Ballroom | Choir A |
Tuesday, July 1 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. | South American Ballroom | Choir B Joanna Alexander Robert Gerber Lori Corrsin |
Tuesday, July 1 Immediately following other rehearsals at 3:15 p.m. | Federal A Ballroom | Women from Choir A and Choir B Faith Steinsnyder Irena Altshul |
Schedule for July 2 - The Day of the Concert
Leave the hotel ready for the evening performance, take anything you need to get ready, there will not be time to return.
Friends, we have all been in charge of concerts before. Please be respectful of the schedule. Please be responsible for yourself, your music, and your belongings.
Time | People | Instructions |
1 p.m. | Susan Bortnick, Sydney Michaeli and Rebecca Moses | Arrive at congregation |
1:45 p.m. | Joanna - bus captain Choir A Choir B DMV Choir Soloists for: Shiru L’Adonai Ozi V’zimrat Yah Enid Leon ALL accompanists | Bus leaves Hotel - Do Not Be Late! If you are making other arrangements to get to the congregation, |
2:15 p.m. | Bus arrives at congregation. Please move quickly into the sanctuary. | |
2:30 p.m. | Rehearsal begins | |
3 p.m. | Leigh, Bus 1 Captain Deb Greenswag, Bus 2 Captain Kolot Zahav Choir All soloists not on the first bus | Bus leaves Hotel - Do Not Be Late! If you are making other arrangements to get to the congregation, |
3:30 p.m. | Bus arrives at congregation. Please move quickly into the sanctuary. | |
3:45 p.m. | Rehearsal Begins Sound check for Sh’ma B’kolah and Shehecheyanu | |
4 p.m. | Rehearsal for 1st half of concert | |
4 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. | Remaining buses leave hotel for WHC | Rachel Roth, bus captain |
4:30 p.m. | BJO and young soloist Dinner available for concert participants in the | Hear My Prayer Rehearsal Light dinner served in lower level for concert participants |
5 p.m. | Everyone | Ma'ariv in the Small Chapel |
6 p.m. | Non-concert participants and guest Concert participants | Dinner in Social hall Return to lower level to finish any preparations |
7:30 p.m. | Everyone in concert | Pre-Concert performers meeting in the Small Chapel |
7:50 p.m. | Everyone | PLACES |
8 p.m. | Downbeat! |
What to Bring:
Your music, pencil, and water! For music, please do you. If you prefer hard copies in a binder, make sure you have that printed off in advance. If you prefer your iPad, please remember to bring a charging cord. With over 115 people involved, outlets will be at a premium. There will NOT be extra copies of the music.
Music:
All music has already been distributed, including Sh’ma B’kolah is available in the Google Drive. If you did not receive the original email, please check your spam or clutter folders. You are also welcome to go directly to the Google Drive and download it yourself. Concert Sheet Music - Google Drive Please review your choir assignment and confirm what pieces you are singing. There are links above with each choirs music as well.
What to Wear:
The concert is formal wear. If you are planning to wear a suit and you don’t have a black tux, a black suit is fine—no need to rent or buy anything! If you don't have a black suit, the darkest blue suit will be fine, too. For dresses, as close to floor length as possible in whatever color you prefer and consider formal. Please make sure your shoulders are covered. (If you don’t have a formal dress or skirt, formal pants and shirt are welcome.) Please do NOT wear perfume, cologne, or heavily scented lotions due to allergies.
Come close to ready to perform. There will be limited time and space to change into formal wear at the congregation. We will have a green room to leave your things in, to hang out, and eat, however, there is limited mirror space! If you can come "coiffed" and as close to ready as possible, it will help all 120 participants have time to touch up their looks and be "stage ready!"
Concert Order:
- Shiru Ladonai (Laurie Akers)
- Welcoming regards (Speaking)
- The first to open the gates (Speaking)
- Pitchu Li (Robbie Solomon)
- Hear My Prayer (Jacob Weinberg)
- Eitz Chayyim (Jack Gottlieb)
- L’dor Vador (Meir Finkelstein)
- Where we heard women’s voices (Speaking)
- V’yoch Tyoch Tyoch
- Entering the Cantorate (Speaking)
- Adonai S’fatai (Natalie Young)
- Ozi V’zimrat Yah (Becky Mann)
- Al Shlosha (Allan Naplan)
- All Cantors bring the entire Jewish Music Canon alive (Speaking)
- Psalm 146 (Salomon Rossi)
- Shamah vatismach tziyon (Katchko/Barash)
- Sim Shalom (Max Janowski)
- 4. Ivdu Et HaShem (Rockoff/Heller)
- Mizmor (Yehezkel Braun)
- Eili Eili (Stephen Glass)
- Miriam HaNeviah (Gerald Cohen)
- Closing regards (Speaking)
- Shehecheyanu (Lori Corrsin)
- Sh’ma B’kolah (Benjie Ellen Schiller)