HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir — including the Baltimore chapter led by conductor Erika Pardes Schon — will hold Sunday rehearsals for the 2024-2025 season later this month, with an open house on Aug. 22.
A culminating gala performance will be held this spring at Carnegie Hall in New York, featuring hundreds of HaZamir singers.
HaZamir was created in 1993 by Matthew Lazar, founder and director of the Zamir Choral Foundation, to provide an opportunity for accomplished young singers to perform Jewish music at the highest standard of excellence and on the world’s biggest stages.
“HaZamir gives young people an outlet to celebrate their Jewish heritage, connect with one another and feel a sense of belonging and pride through the creative outlet of music,” he said. “Now more than ever, this supportive community is crucial to teens.”
Besides Baltimore, HaZamir choir chapters — comprised of teenagers in grades 9-12 — meet in 26 American chapters, including Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Chapters are also located in nine Israeli cities.
Many HaZamir graduates have gone on to musical careers and assumed leadership roles in their communities, while 17 alumni are now conductors or coordinators of their own chapters.
HaZamir members rehearse weekly in their local chapters with expert conductors, as well as at regional gatherings throughout the year. A three-day festival leading up to the annual performance brings Israeli and American teens together to rehearse and discuss important topics related to Judaism, providing an opportunity for them to learn about each other’s traditions and cultures.
“This is a life-changing experience for these teens, as they express their Jewish identities through their love of music while building leadership skills and strong connections to peers from a range of backgrounds,” said Vivian Lazar, director of HaZamir. “The camaraderie and healing power of choral singing also boosts mood and self-esteem, allowing them to achieve great success.”
For information or to schedule an audition, contact hazamirbaltimore@gmail.com or visit hazamir.org/hazamir_baltimore. For additional information about HaZamir, email hazamir@zamirchoralfoundation.org or visit hazamir.org.
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