The Milken Fund initiates the 2018-19 season for music that celebrates Jewish culture.
The Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music is set to present an exciting lineup of events this academic year, offering audiences a unique opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of Jewish music and its reflection of the American Jewish experience.
Kicking off the season on February 3rd, the "Shir Chadash (New Song) Series" will feature UCLA Ph.D. candidate Michel Klein, curating a performance of Jewish concert works composed in the last few decades. On the same day, the Tony-nominated Eleanor Reissa will direct an evening of musical theater.
On February 23rd, Eleanor Reissa will once again take the stage, this time with "On the Cantors Couch," a one-man show that paints a vivid picture of 1950's Borough Park and the golden voices of cantors. The performance will feature Cantor Mendelson and his collaborator, Cantor Jonathan Comisor.
The programs offered by the Lowell Milken Fund are diverse, encompassing scholarly talks, workshops, musical theater performances, and even a Klezmer dance party. On January 13th, for instance, a day of workshops led by renowned musicians will culminate in a Klezmer dance party.
In May, audiences can look forward to "Restoring the Synagogue Soundtrack," a scholarly talk by Associate Professor Judah Cohen of Indiana University. The talk will delve into the innovations and evolutions in Jewish musical developments in 19th Century America. UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music vocalists will perform select historical pieces as part of the lecture.
On May 19th, in collaboration with Opera UCLA, the Milken Fund co-sponsors "Lost Childhood," a two-act opera that confronts the difficult pasts of a Jewish Holocaust survivor and a post-war German. The music was composed by Janice Hamer and the libretto written by Mary Azrael.
Other highlights include a performance on November 18th that showcases the music of the European exiled composers of early Hollywood, and a live reading of the award-winning fairy tale "Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins" accompanied by Klezmer music and songs performed by UCLA's JewkBox acapella group on December 9th.
In an inaugural collaboration with the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA, the concert "Bible Women" will give voice to the women of the Bible on February 10th. The concert will feature the alumni of both UCLA and AJRCA, with lyrics and music by Tony-nominated composer Elizabeth Swados.
Finally, on April 14th, the Milken Fund's own Associate Director Lorry Black will perform a Klezmer Xylophone concert, titled "an Unconventional Love Story." The fund also presents a live reading of the Emmy award-winning documentary "In the Fiddler's House" on January 12th.
For the most up-to-date event schedule, we recommend checking the official website of the Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music or the hosting institution's event calendar. You might also consider contacting their office directly via email or phone for detailed information. We can help you draft an inquiry email if needed!
- This academic year, the Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music's extensive home-and-garden of events includes a diverse lifestyle of scholarly talks, workshops, musical theater performances, and even entertainment like a Klezmer dance party.
- In May, the entertainment genre expands further with the co-sponsored opera, "Lost Childhood," an emotional two-act opera featuring music by Janice Hamer and a poignant libretto by Mary Azrael.
