Students participating in “Patchwork” take part in a series of classroom workshops lead by our LAJS Teaching Artists. Each focuses on a different element associated with the music of Sephardic and Latin American cultures: folktales and folksongs, language, instrumental color, and orchestration.
Notable Notes
Dr. Green Presents “Melodies of Memory”
Music has ever been a powerful framework for holding, and for triggering ideas and memory.
Congratulations, Nikka Gershman!
Nikka Gershman made history receiving an acceptance letter to Juilliard, one of the most prestigious music schools in the world, at only 15-years-old. Nikka was named a 2023 Kovner Fellow – the highest-level recognition of exceptionally gifted musicians at Juilliard.
Meet Alan Gonzalez, Our New Intern!
A lifelong musician and budding administrative professional, Sarah Seltzer is a recent graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, summa cum laude, under the tutelage of Dr. Lorenz Gamma.
Meet Mark Kashper, LAJS Founding Concertmaster
Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mark Kashper started taking violin lessons at the age of five. In addition to being a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, where he was one of the last and favorite pupils of the legendary David Oistrakh, Kashper also graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory.
The Vanderveen Violin Goes to Australia
Maestra Green tells the story of the Vanderveen violin and its journey to Australia for the play Stories from the Violins of Hope.
Reflections on Stories from the Violins of Hope – Australia
Maestra Green reflects on the production of the recent run of the play Stories from the Violins of Hope in Australia in the summer of 2023.
A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection 2023
The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS) wrapped their education program A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection with pair of joyous concerts at Sinai Temple in Westwood and Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge.
Triumph of the Spirit: Stories of the Holocaust Through Music
In collaboration with the Arts Education team at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, the LAJS is proud to present the education program Triumph of the Spirit: Holocaust Stories Through Music, culminating in two concerts on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10 am and 12 pm.
Music and the Holocaust: History Memory and Justice
We are so proud that our very own Dr. Noreen Green joined historian James Grymes, composer and conductor Victoria Bond, and violinist Renée Jolles for the United Nations panel at the UN Headquarters in New York “Music and the Holocaust: History Memory and Justice” on November 10, 2022!