About Us
Founding Artistic Director & Conductor
Dr. Noreen Green
Dr. Noreen Green is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS). Known worldwide for her knowledge and skill in presenting music with Jewish themes, she has served as guest conductor in the United States, Israel, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean. In 2022, due to her noteworthy accomplishments and prominence in her field, she was inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. In November of that year, she spoke at the United Nations on Music and the Holocaust: History, Memory and Justice.
Founding Concertmaster
Mark Kashper
An active recitalist and avid chamber music player, Mark Kashper, Founding Concertmaster of the LAJS, performs extensively in the Los Angeles area and throughout the United States. A keystone of the LAJS since its founding in the Spring of 1994, he has been a frequent featured soloist, performing acclaimed renditions of Williams’s Suite from Schindler’s List, Korngold’s Violin Concerto, Copland’s Vitebsk: Study on a Jewish Theme, Bloch’s Baal Shem, and many more. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kashper arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1978. Three months after his arrival, he won an audition to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he has been the Associate Principal Second Violin of the LA Phil since 1986.
History & Mission
Our History
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Noreen Green, Artistic Director and Conductor, the LAJS has performed throughout the Southland at such venues as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Ford Theatres, the Saban Theatre, Wadsworth Theatre, UCLA’s Royce Hall, the University of La Verne, Chapman University, and the Gindi Auditorium at American Jewish University. The LAJS serves the community with free family-oriented events, such as KlezFest, a klezmer music and dance JAM Session at the Ford, and a public concert to conclude the LAJS’s outreach education program, A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection. Each year, this program takes hundreds of Los Angeles County grade-school students on a thrilling musical journey of discovery.
“Even though the symphony’s repertoire references the historic and cultural Jewish experience, it maintains broad appeal with programs marked by contemporary themes and issues that affect us all.”
The LAJS collaborates with artists from communities throughout Southern California. We’ve performed with such groups as the Faithful Central Bible Church Choir, the Agape International Choir, the Mariachi Divas, the Yuval Ron Ensemble, and many others. The LAJS has showcased great artists such as Hershey Felder and the late Theodore Bikel, as well as many up-and-coming young musicians as concerto soloists. Young composers are nurtured by the LAJS as well; we actively commission new works and our concerts often feature world, US or West Coast premieres. Performance partnerships with the internationally acclaimed dance company BodyTRAFFIC and years of humanitarian aid concerts with KindredSPIRITS are emblematic of the LAJS’s collaborative mission.
“…this world-class Jewish orchestra…featured nothing but astounding talent and music”
To celebrate the richness of Jewish music, to share it with diverse audiences of Southern California, and to pass the treasure of Jewish music and heritage to the next generation – this is our ongoing tradition!
Our Mission
The mission of the LAJS is to perform works of well-known as well as not widely recognized Jewish composers; establish opportunities for the presentation of new compositions by Jewish artists; serve as a professional resource for aspiring Jewish and non-Jewish musicians; act as an educational medium for Jewish music and composers; and provide educational opportunities for diverse populations of school-age children.
Our Vision
Bridging diverse communities and creating harmony through music of the Jewish experience for current and future generations.
Our Team
RICHARD MERKIN, M.D., FOUNDER
BOARD OFFICERS
David Gill, Chair
S. Ian Drew, M.D., President
Fawn Dao, Treasurer
Arline Chambers, V.P. Communications
Janet Schulman, V.P. Development
Sandy Berman, Secretary
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honey Kessler Amado
Stan Baratta
Sylvia Bernstein-Tregub
Robert Carroll, M.D.
Sandy Carroll
Bernard Franklin, M.D.
Jean Friedman
Elaine Gill
Noralee Gold
Arik Kashper
Mara Kashper
Jack Mayer
Paula Meichtry
Wendy Prober-Cohen
Lenore Rukasin
Guy Saperstein
Jeanine Saperstein
Randol Schoenberg, Esq.
Leslie Steinmetz
Ari Zev
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Alexander Bernstein
Theodore Bikel (z”l)
Rabbi Mark Blazer
Cantor Herschel Fox
Jerry Friedman
Andrew Kluger
Cantor Nathan Lam
Bertha Merikanskas
Joy Picus
Maestro Lucas Richman
Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis (z”l)
Maestro Murry Sidlin
Bonnie Somers
Diane White-Clayton, PhD
STAFF
Dr. Noreen Green
Artistic Director
Audrey Yoder
Managing Director and Education Program Coordinator
Joemy Wilson
Development Director
Reid Carter
Administrator
Rhian Bristol
Administrative Assistant
Patrick Safley
I.T. Consultant
Beth Silverman
Bookkeeper
Sarah Seltzer
LA County Arts Intern
Adwire
Website Design and Development
Vector Strategies
Logo and Branding Design
Sponsors
Our LAJS Sponsors are the lifeblood of our organization. With their support, we have continued to thrive and expand our programming since 1994.
If you would like to become an LAJS Sponsor, please contact our office at:
(818) 646-2844
or
admin@lajs.org.
Government Grantors
- California Arts Council
- Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture
- National Endowment for the Arts
Corporate Sponsors
- Baxter-Northup Music Co.
- Heritage Medical Group
- The Jewish Journal
- Jewish Life Television (JLTV)
- Langers Juice
- Regal Medical Group
- S&G Homecare, Inc.
- Shayua Israeli, The Israeli Weekly News
- Southern California Edison
- Trader Joe’s
- Tribe Media Group
- US Bancorp
- US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Foundation and Organization Support
- America Israel Cultural Foundation
- All Star Recruiting
- Hennings-Fischer Foundation
- Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary
- The Jewish Community Foundation, Los Angeles
- Jewish Life Foundation
- Kashper Family Foundation
- Maurice Amado Foundation
- The Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation
- Milken Family Foundation
- The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
- Richard Merkin Childrens Charities
- The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Family Foundation