The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS) wrapped up their annual 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 on May 1 and May 2, respectively. The program, which brings together fourth and fifth grade students from Los Angeles public schools, parochial schools, and Jewish day schools, uses music to educate participants about the shared heritage of Sephardic and Latin American cultures.

Following a series of in-class workshops lead by LAJS Teaching Artists, the students attended a full symphony concert; for many of the public-school students, the concerts marked both their first time visiting a Jewish temple and their first experience seeing an orchestra.

Argentinian-born Rabbi Cantor Marcelo Gindlin of Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue was the featured soloist for both concerts, performing a repertoire of Mexican and Sephardic folk songs. Other featured performers included guitarist Daniel Raijman, Founding Concertmaster Mark Kashper, and soloist Sadie Stallcup of MUSYCA Children’s Choir.

In keeping with their mission to build bridges of music and understanding within the diverse multi-ethnic communities of Los Angeles, the LAJS has spun off the Patchwork program into an ongoing masterclass lecture series. For more information, or if you know a school that would like to become involved in the program next year, contact info@lajs.org.

Click the links below to learn more about the program and visit our photo galleries.