The Center's repertory chamber ensemble premiers and showcases new musical works, poetry, and dramatic texts on Jewish themes by Center-affiliated composers and writers from Israel and around the world as well as rarely performed works from the historical Jewish repertoire in each annual Los Angeles four concert season. The full or partial ensemble is available for performances in various communities by special arrangement with the Center. For upcoming concerts check the calendar or events sections. The current artistic director of Synergy is Mr. Neal Brostoff.
Please click on the boxes to hear samples of Synergy concerts
Meitar
Ensemble Meitar is a unique chamber music group, which was founded with the objective of performing Israeli contemporary music and music based on Judaic themes and concepts. It was established in 2003 by Mr. Amit Dolberg and has been directed by him ever since. The encounter with the composer Ofer Ben-Amots resulted in strong and direct connection with the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity, and Ensemble Meitar became the Center's representative music group in Israel. In 2006 the ensemble was invited to perform throughout Finland, England and Germany. They are scheduled to appear during the 2006-7 season in Romania, Hungary, Italy, England, Germany, France, Poland and Israel, where they will participate in the Israeli Music Festival, the Jerusalem Festival and the Biennale for contemporary music. They recently became a representative ensemble of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Ensemble Meitar's composer in residence for 2006-7 is the composer Ayal Adler.
Website: meitar.net
ISAM – International Summer Academy of Music in Michelstadt, Germany
Establised by the Center in the summer of 2005 in the city of Michelstadt in Germany, ISAM is a two-week long annual intensive institute for music composition and piano performance with emphasis on serious Jewish concert and art music. The institute is a unique opportunity to expose young composers and performers to the Jewish ethos and its authentic musical heritage and to inspire them to create and interpret Jewish art music, and thereby to ensure an evolving Jewish musical culture. The institute is taught by world renowned faculty and is intended for high-school and college students majoring in music and a select number of gifted emerging composers and musicians with Bachelor or Master of Music degrees. Applicants are being considered very carefully. Only the most talented and those with the potential to be future leaders within the artistic, musical and cultural community are accepted; half of them on a full scholarship. Anticipated participants for ISAM 2007: Europe 6-8, Russia and the Ukraine 6-8, U.S. 5, Israel 5, TOTAL: 20-24. The participants in the fist two ISAMs included internationally award winning up and coming composers and pianists. Michelstadt has proved to be a welcoming friendly host and the positive effect of ISAM on the population in it and in the surrounding area (including the nearby Frankfurt) has been tremendous. ISAM was founded by Prof. Ofer Ben-Amots and the late Prof. Joseph Dorfman. Leading pianist Daniel Pollack has joined the faculty recently.
Website: michelstadt.de/ISAM_english.595.0.html
The most important newspaper in Germany dedicated an admiring article to ISAM.
International Festivals of Jewish Culture and Creativity
Premiere new works in music, theatre, dance, film and exhibit works of fine art emerging from the Center's creative movement to large and varied audiences in North America, Europe and Israel. For example: “The Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts festival” which is already in its 13th year.
Website: sandiegorep.com/pages/buytix/jfest.html
International Competitions for Compositions on Judaic Concepts and Themes
Regularly elicit new chamber works on specified Jewish themes from young composers around the world. Winning works as judged by an outstanding international jury receive cash prizes and are publicly performed, recorded and broadcast. Past themes included the Six days of Creation. The 2007 competition is dedicated to the theme of the Dead Sea Scrolls and takes place in conjunction with a special visit of the Scrolls in San Diego, California, in July 2007. The winning musical works will receive their premieres during the DSS visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum, during the second half of 2007, by Synergy, the Center’s chamber ensemble. The director of the competition is Synergy’s Artistic Director Neal Brostoff. Please check back for updates and competition guidelines.
The Jewish Creativity Salons are intimate bi-monthly gatherings for 30-50 young professionals, ages 21-39, who are introduced to high-quality Center artists that showcase works incorporating Jewish content and hold a Q&A and open discussion. Hosted in different homes in Los Angeles, this exciting program attracts young professionals who might care for the arts, but are not necessarily exposed to Jewish-themed art. The intimate setting allows participants to interact closely with the artists and thereby creates a powerful experience that leads to personal engagement in the Jewish heritage and a sense of commitment not achieved by most cultural events.
Yuval Ron talking about his work on Oscar winning West Bank Story
Guests listening to Yuval Ron talking about his work on Oscar winning West Bank Story
From left: musician Dory Lobel, choreographer/dancer Paula Present and painter Alexandra Jikol listening to artist Yuval Ron
Center friends Sara Shereen Bakhshian and Michael Domesick at Jewish Creativity Salon with artist Yuval Ron
From left: filmmaker Michael Schwartz and Center Friends chair Dan Witzling at Jewish Creativity Salon with artist Yuval Ron
From left: writer Savyon Einstein and journalist Avner Hofstein at Jewish Creativity Salon with artist Yuval Ron
From left: Center friends Moran Surf and Paula Present at Jewish Creativity Salon with artist Yuval Ron
Center Friends chair Dan Witzling and wife Alycia Witzling at Jewish Creativity Salon with artist Yuval Ron
