KlezKamp December 2004!

KlezKamp , www.livingtraditions.org, has updated their website and has added two new features: Photos of KlezKamp 19 (2003) and a new section of links to our favorite websites relevant to Yiddish and Klezmer which will certainly be of interest. Please visit our website often and let us know what you think.

Sabina Brukner,Associate Director of Living Traditions, writes: "Tayere Khaverim, It is a pleasure to write to you in my new position as Associate Director of Living Traditions. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you as we work together to preserve Yiddish language and folk culture and to incorporate it as a relevant part of Jewish cultural identity. We will try to keep it up to date to give you the latest information about all of ur projects. Soon to come is a centralized Klezmer Performance database which will allow you to search for information about performances by your favorite artists, searchable by location, date and performer. We are currently in the midst of planning a KlezKamp 2004 Twenty years! Biz hundert tsvantsik! In order to celebrate this milestone properly we need your help. Please send us your photos, audiotapes, videotapes, art projects and other memorabilia from your times at KlezKamp. We will use them in our various retrospective projects, including a website, exhibits at KlezKamp and, of course, the special KlezKamp 20 zhurnal. Send us copies or duplicates, if possible, and clearly label any items you will want returned. Save the dates December 26-31, 2004 and be sure to join KlezKampers and staff from the last 20 years at the Swan Lake Resort Hotel in the Catskills. Details of the program will be available soon after Labor Day. As you read in our Pesakh mailing, we are also producing a of a Best of KlezKamp 2-CD anthology which will be available by the beginning of KlezKamp this year. A crack group of KlezKampers have listened to all existing tapes of KlezKamp performances to find the treasures that will appear in the collection. It?s going to be great. We need your financial support to make this CD project happen, of course, so if you have not already sent in your response card to the mailing, please do so now. If you donate $100 or more above membership dues, you will receive an advanced copy of the anthology and your gift will be acknowledged in the accompanying booklet. That you participate is more important than the amount of your gift. Please help support this great project. We are so proud of the community that has been created through KlezKamp and Living Traditions. You are us. We want and need your input, suggestions and feedback. Please feel contact me anytime at Sabina@livingtraditions.org, call me in the Living Traditions office (212) 532-8202, or write Sabina Brukner, Living Traditions, 45 East 33rd Street, Suite B-2A, New York, NY 10016. I look forward to hearing from you.
A sheynem dank,
Sabina Brukner

�Music in the Land of Three Faiths�

St. Bartholomew�s Church Presents The Ivory Consort in Music in the Land of Three Faiths at St. Bartholomew�s Church on May 6 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors. The church is located at 109 East 50th St. and Park Ave. For more information and to order tickets please call 212-378-0248.

The Ivory Consort, founded and directed by Jay Elfenbein, is an ensemble that specializes in medieval music performed in an exciting and historically informed manner. For over ten years, they have brought ancient music to life on stage and over the radio with stunning clarity and brilliant improvisation. The Consort presents a fascinating mosaic of songs from the Golden Age of Spain, when Jews, Muslims and Christians forged a common musical language. The program features 10th through 13th century songs in Ladino, Hebrew, Arabic and Galician-Portuguese and provides a historical context for the intermingling of cultures that took place before the 1492 Expulsion.
Jay Elfenbein (vihuela d�arco/vielle/rebab/psaltery/back-up vocals)
Gerard Edery (baritone/saz/psaltery/percussion)
George Mgrdichian (oud)
Dennis Cinelli (mandora/saz)
Rex Benincasa (dumbek/frame drums/darbouka/riq/back-up vocals)
Margo Gezairlian Grib (soprano/vielle)

KlezKanada

KlezKanada's website at www.klezkanada.com has been updated for this year's session. Klezkanada is located in Lantier Quebec, just north of Montreal.Sessions for musicians take place August 23-29. For everyone else, camp takes place August 25-29.

Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys

Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys
Sunday, May 2 3pm Jewish Center of Jackson Heights, 37-06 77th St. Jackson Heights, NY 718-429-1150

Thursday, May 6 Benefit concert for The Dwelling Place, Homeless shelter in Norfolk VA with Tim O'Brien. www.thedwellingplaceva.org

Friday, May 7 The Prism Coffehouse, 214 Rugby Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903, (434) 97-PRISM www.theprism.org

Saturday, May 15 8 pm The Arden Club, 2126 The Highway, Arden, DE. Tickets and information: (302) 475-3126 www.ardenclub.com/concerts.htm

Sunday, May 30 6 & 7:30pm Satalla, 37 West 26th St. (6th/Broadway)NYC, 212.576.1155 www.Satalla.com

Nikitov - "Amulet"

Nikitov - "Amulet" (Chamsa Records) The Dutch/American band's first CD release. Beautifully sung Yiddish classics interpreted by Nikitov with pronounced Eastern Euorpean, Gypsy jazz and Turkish flavorings. This acoustic quartet delivers spot on rhythm with energetic improvisations to create a sound that is completely their own. Featuring: "Sha Shtil", "Mayn Rue Plats", "Di Krenetse", "Reyzele" and more...
Niki Jacobs (voice)
Adam Good (acoustic guitar)
Jelle van Tongeren (violin)
Jason Sypher (upright bass)

$15 + $3 shipping/handling
for ordering information:
http://www.nikitov.com
credit card orders taken at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/nikitov

personal checks, mail to: Adam Good
2801 Glenhurst Ave. So.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
(checks made payable to Adam Good)

Legacy of Spirit in Boston

Daniel S. Gil presents The Legacy of Spirit Concert & Presentation featuring Conductor Gilbert Trout at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall. Sunday, June 6 2:45 PM (2:00 PM doors). U.S.$15.00-U.S.$36.00.
http://www.legacyofspirit.org/

Featuring Conductor Gilbert Trout and a chamber orchestra, which includes musicians from the Boston Pops and Boston Lyric Opera. This concert features the lost sacred music of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Judaism's Chasidic movement and traditional music from the Baal Shem Tov's hometown of Mezbuz; recovered and orchestrated by local composer Daniel S. Gil.

Burning Bush/BBC Concert Orchestra

Robert Ziegler cond. will repeat the Burning Bush/BBC Concert Orchestra concert next February in Chichester, West Sussex as follows:
Put on the calendar now!:
Thursday 3rd February 2005, 7.30pm:
Chichester Festival Theatre:
Tickets �10, �18, �26 and �30:
Box Office 01243 781312:

Ofer Ben Amots

Composer Ofer Ben Amots has new website in addition to the release of his music on the Milken archive CD: http://www.oferbenamots.com

Feel the Spirit...Sing a new song!

You are invited to join us for a Musical Friday Night Service at SUTTON PLACE SYNAGOGUE 225 East 51st Street (between Second and and Third Ave) 212-593-3300 Friday, April 30th, at 6:00 PM sharp! Oneg will follow... With: Rabbi Alan Schrantz, Cantor Dov Keren, *Shirona* and the Ruach Instrumental Ensemble.

MUSIC OF OUR TIME

A Concert at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
Sunday, May 2 at 3 PM
Music by American Jewish Composers:
Bernstein, Bloch, Cohen, Copland, Gershwin, Goodman, Kraft and Zur

Featuring:
Ruth Laredo, piano
Adrienne Cooper, mezzo-soprano
Joseph Rutkowski, clarinet
Lisa Albrecht, trombone
Dan Zhu, violin
Florence String Quartet
Mimi Stern-Wolfe, piano
$8; $4 for students, seniors, ASJM & AJHS members
Reservations required
Box Office:
Phone 917.606.8200
Fax 917.606.8201
boxoffice@cjh.org
Program

Leo Kraft's New Songs from Old (fantasy for clarinet)
Jacob Goodman's Three Yiddish Songs (mezzo and piano)
Menachem Zur's Prelude for Solo Violin
Gerald Cohen's Preludes and Debka (trombone and string quartet)
Ernest Bloch's String Quartet no. 2
Bernstein's Touches, 8 Variations and Coda
Gershwin's Three Preludes for Piano, no. 1
Copland's Blues No. 3 (piano)
Elzear (Zez) Confrey's Kitten on the Keys

Schulhoff Weekend at 92nd Street Y

Saturday May 1 8PM performed by the Julliard Orchestra, cond. by James Conlon and Sunday, May 2 3PM will have concerts of the music of Erwin Schulhoff. For tickets, www.92Y.org/Schulhoff or call 212-415-5500. concert tickets $30. Not to be missed... concerts at the 92nd Street Y Tisch Center for the Arts, 1395 Lexington Ave. in New York

KLEZTRAPHOBIX

Tuesday, April 27th, 2004 @ 9pm @ Club Seho (formerly Club Lickwed) 113 Ludlow St. (between Rivington and Delancey) Lower East Side, NYC, just a few blocks away from the Williamsburg Bridge. By subway: J, M, Z, F to Delancey / Essex St. Mike says: "Yes kiddies, there is no cover so you'll be able to bring a date! We'll be playing all you Klezmer favorites plus a few new tunes soon to become Klezmer standards. "
then... onward and downward...
We're catching cabs to Dr. Jelly Finger's Paradise Jam @ Otto's Shrunken Head and Tikki Bar located 538 E 14th St. between Ave. A & B. This is the Times Square of the East Village. Mike says: "We're literally just going to throw everyone off the stage. Yes, there will be mayhem as we clash with these mighty rock and rollers, but have no fear, they love us there. We'll be storming the stage around 11:30pm. The price of admission is free here as well. "
Who: KLEZTRAPHOBIX
What: Live shows
When: Tuesday, April 27th
Where: Club Seho @ 9pm, Otto's Shrunken Head @ 11:30pm
http://kleztraphobix.com/

JMWC says: "Cool Website".

Klezmer Workshop in Park Slope

A new series of the popular Klezmer Workshop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, begins with a free Open House on Thursday evening, May 6, 2004, 7:30 PM at Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place, Park Slope, Brooklyn. CONTACT: CANTOR JANET LEUCHTER AT (718) 768-3814 x218

Led by internationally acclaimed klezmer musician Jeff Warschauer, the 6-session series continues on Thursday evenings from May 13 through June 17. Newcomers, playing at an intermediate level or higher, are welcome. Cost is $165 for CBE members, $185 for non-members; $30/35 per-session rate.
Jeff Warschauer is internationally renowned as a mandolinist, guitarist, Yiddish singer and teacher. He is a member of the Strauss/Warschauer Duo and was a long-time member of the Klezmer Conservatory Band.
For more info, call Cantor Janet Leuchter, 718-768-3814, ext. 218 or email: jleuchter@cbebk.org

Rainlore's World of Music

Richard ("Renaissance Man") runs Rainlore's World of Music . It has lots of CD Reviews of Jewish music. For online reviews:
http://www.rainlore.demon.co.uk

SAFAM FEST on 24/7 Radio

THE ENTIRE SAFAM COLLECTION consisting of OVER 7 HOURS OF GREAT MUSIC by Safam, the music group from Boston can be heard 24/7 on a special online broadcast on NUASACH INTERNET RADIO NETWORK, hosted by LIVE365.COM. This is the largest and oldest 24/7 internet radio dedicated solely to Jewish music. TUNE in at:
http://www.live365.com/stations/156465
(If you are not a member of live365, you will have to register to listen...its free. Once signed up, live365 will test your connection speed and you will be asked if you want to download the live365 player. it is a small program and the best way to listen to live365 stations.)
Rabbi Winston Weilheimer, Owner, Host
NUSACH INTERNET RADIO NETWORK

RebbeSoul has new website

"world beat and Jewish roots music on the cutting edge. " http://www.rebbesoul.com/ This Los Angeles-based group has a new website and lists 5 recordings. The website has press reviews, contact info and upcoming tour listings.

OFER BEN-AMOTS and DAVID DIAMOND CDs

NEW CD RELEASES from the MILKEN ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN JEWISH MUSIC and NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS: DAVID DIAMOND and OFER BEN-AMOTS For details about Diamond CD, go to http://www.milkenarchive.org/cds/cds.taf?cdid=17 To read an article about David Diamond's AHAVA-Brotherhood, go to http://www.milkenarchive.org/articles/articles.taf?function=detail&ID=48 To read an interview with narrator Theodore Bikel, go to http://www.milkenarchive.org/articles/articles.taf?function=detail&ID=46 For details about Amots CD, go to http://www.milkenarchive.org/cds/cds.taf?cdid=18

DAVID DIAMOND (CD #8.559412) Commissioned in 1954 for the 300th anniversary of Jews in America and recorded for the first time ever by the Milken Archive, David Diamond's AHAVA-BROTHERHOOD is a captivating work for orchestra and narrator that includes text from biblical prophets, medieval Spanish-Hebrew poets, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington! AHAVA culminates in a universal appeal for "goodness, benevolence, and compassion" to be shared by people of all faiths, races, and nationalities. Also included on this CD are Jewish prayer settings by mid-20th-century American masters, all recorded for the first time.

OFER BEN-AMOTS (CD #8.559421) Four sacred and secular works by award-winning, Israeli-born composer Ofer Ben-Amots are heard on this recording. CELESTIAL DIALOGUES combines two great Jewish musical traditions: a klezmer clarinet solo - derived from the haunting virtuoso idiom typical of traditional eastern European Jewish bands - and cantorial vocal passages that emanate from centuries-old Ashkenazi liturgical ritual. Both mystical and worldly, the "dialogues" evoke timeless songs and dances of Jewish experience, as well as a striving for the spiritual purification of prayer. In SHTETL SONGS, the composer has created inimitable vignettes and character portraits of eastern European Jewry while preserving a rich folk heritage; and in the choral cycle HASHKIVENU-SONG OF THE ANGELS, he explores the mystical aspects of the Sabbath.

YOM HAATZMAUT/ ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT &

The American Sephardi Federation with Sephardic House is thrilled to invite you to our concert featuring the talented Cantor Moshe Tessone and his unforgettable Oriental ensemble. FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL BOX OFFICE (917) 606-8200 or EMAIL: ISPERLING@ASF.CJH.ORG.
CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY, 15 W. 16TH STREET, BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH AVENUES, NEW YORK CITY; 7 PM Reception, 7:45 Concert. Admission: $20; $15: For Advance Reservations, Students, Seniors, Members of ASF, YUM & the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue

Sephardic poetry has traditionally been filled with a love and longing for Zion and Jerusalem, and the concert melodies will attempt to give voice to that powerful yearning. The event will take place this SUNDAY, APRIL 25th, at the CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY, and will start with a reception (including docent-led tours of our current exhibit, JEWISH COSTUMES IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE) at 7 PM. The evening's program will begin at 7:45 by first honoring those who gave their lives in Israel's defense with a presentation by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, and then transitioning into a celebration of Israel's independence with Middle Eastern and Sephardic song! Please join us in what we are sure will be an exciting and meaningful evening! We can't wait to see you there! Purchase your tickets now, as space is limited! Co-sponsored by the Sephardic Community Program at Yeshiva University, Yeshiva University Museum and the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue

PIEROGIES AND PO-BOYS

Romashka, The Village Klezmer Quintet, and the Gold Sparkle Brass Band are joining forces at the Baggot Inn.
When?
Thursday, May 6th
7 pm - The Village Klezmer Quintet
8 pm - The Gold Sparkle Brass Band
9 pm - Romashka, the NYC Gypsy Dance Party Band
$5 cover
Where:
Baggot Inn is located at 82 W. 3rd Street, bet. Thompson and Sullivan, New York., phone: (212) 477-0622

A NIGHT OF EASTERN EUROPEAN AND NEW ORLEANS DANCE MUSIC AT THE BAGGOT INN, NY.
Baggot Inn: http://www.baggotinn.com/baggot.html
The show will feature the lively music of Romanian & Russian Gypsy caravans, the Eastern European Jewish diaspora, and New Orleans second line, which grew out of the funeral procession traditions of African slaves. Pierogies and Po-Boys, the Red Line clashes with the Second Line! http://www.baggotinn.com/baggot.html Website: http://www.romashka.net/vkq http://www.romashka.net/gypsy

Klezmer Sundays

Satalla, they are indeed planning to have klezmer every Sunday starting in May, 2004. 37 West 26th St. NYC.

Yakov Chodosh new CD

A new CD is out, called "Straight Outta Squirrel Hill." (named after the Jewish area of Pittsburgh). It's about half swing tunes and half Jewish, with one video game theme thrown in there as well. It's all Yakov, all the time, on piano and vocals. You can download a few MP3s at http://www.yakv.com . Yakov recommends to "Start with 'Eatin' Kosher Chicken.' " For only $7, which includes postage.

Techelet Ensemble

Yoel Taieb and the Techelet Ensemble from Safed, Israel, have a new website. It has reviews, biographies of the musicians, links, and more. http://www.geocities.com/techelet4yoel

Jewish Music List Archives Now Searchable Online

Introducing http://archive.chazzanut.com/
Chazzanut Online now contains a fully searchable and browsable archive of the jewish-music@shamash.org (1992-2004) and hanashir@shamash.org (1996-2004) mailing lists. That's more than 800MB worth of data!

Have you experienced trouble searching the archives of the Shamash mailing lists? Have you always wished that there were an easy way to find a mail thread of several months or years ago? Use this archive to find Jewish music topics discussed online through the Jewish Music List.

Veretski Pass

The CD, officially released today, April 21st, by the group of the same name, with Cookie Segelstein (violin, scordatura violin and viola), Joshua Horowitz (chromatic accordion, tsimble) and Stuart Brotman (bass, basy, baraban) is NOW AVAILABLE at Golden Horn Records, www.goldenhorn.com.
This link takes you right to the page about the CD:
http://www.goldenhorn.com/display.php4?content=records&page=ghp020.html

Much of the music on this recording comes from and near the region of the Veretski Pass (after which the group is named)in the Zakarpatska Oblast (Transcarpathian region) of what is now Ukraine, the main crossroads through which the Jews traversed the Carpathian Bow. There is a stunning suite of Crimean Tatar music and also a rare Karaite song, followed by improvisations and a pyrotechnic fiddle song performed on a scordatura violin. There are also original compositions, a suite with a bass and viola duet, traditional Jewish and Ukrainian dance tunes all accompanied by rich photographs and finely wrought essays (and even some family recipes) by each member of the trio. The book, The Music of Veretski Pass, is the music of the record transcribed by Cookie with a forward by Josh. It is available for $20 plus $2.50 (in the US) shipping You can contact us through our website (www.veretskipass.com), click on BOOK, to find out how to purchase ( where to send the check or money order).

Klezmer & Latin Jazz octets, double your pleasure

Metropolitan Klezmer + Los Mas Valientes
Wednesday, April 21
Makor, 35 W. 67 St (CPW/Columbus), NYC
www.makor.org 212.601.1000
8:00pm Metropolitan Klezmer
9:30pm Los Mas Valientes
doors open at 7:30pm, just $12 for both bands

Soulful virtuosity meets free-ranging fun in two female-led eight-piece bands. MetroKlezmer shares this Upper West evening with their Latin jazz counterparts, Los Mas Valientes, whose latest CD spent 10 months on Latin Beat's hit parade! Drummer Eve Sicular leads the decade-strong Metropolitan Klezmer, while flutist Jessica Valiente is the driving force behind the versatile LMV. Gorgeously arranged traditionals, classic originals, and plenty of dance beats...
This is a double bill we've been looking forward to for a long time, what's not to enjoy? Great tunes -- all ages -- one low price -- no minimum!
Rick Faulkner (trombone) & Debra Kreisberg (clarinet/sax) grace both groups. Full bar & gourmet kosher menu available, swanky club in a brownstone.
www.makor.org
www.metropolitanklezmer.com
www.losmasvalientes.com

Spring 2004 Klezmer Workshop

The Workmen's Circle announces Jeff Warschauer
Free Open House Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 PM
7 week paid session starts the following Tuesday, May 4, through June 15, 7:00 pm.
Study with an internationally recognized master instructor Learn tunes from the diverse klezmer tradition Work in ensembles with other instrumentalists Develop tools for improvisation Guest instructors from the cutting edge of the contemporary klezmer scene
Open to players of any instrument who play and read music at at least an intermediate level
Course Fee:
Member: 7 week session $160; per session $25
Non-member: 7 week session $200; per session $30
For more information or registration call: 212 889 6800 x270

Divahn in Concert

April 21st - Wednesday
Washington, D.C.
8 pm
Washington Jewish Music Festival
Opening: John Bell, Sitar and Broto Roy, Tabla
Member: $20 Non-member: $25 Student/Senior: $12
For tickets or brochure:
202-777-3208 or jessika@dcjcc.org
For more info on the Festival:
http://www.dcjcc.org/arts/music/WashingtonJewishMusicFestival.htm

Check out our upcoming concert appearances at:
www.divahn.com

BARD’S JEWISH AND MUSLIM STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ENVISION PEACE CONCERT

AT BARD COLLEGE ON APRIL 15
Atzilut, a 10-person Arab and Jewish ensemble, will perform in concert with an opening and closing chant for peace by Rabbi Shefa Gold. An opening and closing chant for peace in Hebrew, English, and Arabic will be given by Rabbi Shefa Gold, the 2004 Anna Jones Fellow at Bard College. The program will begin at 8:00 p.m. in Olin Hall. General admission is $10; free to Bard students, faculty, and staff.
A Meet the Artists Middle Eastern reception for Bard students will be held in Village Dorm A Sacred Space at 6:00 p.m. For further information, e-mail Rabbi Goldie Milgram at rebgoldiem@aol.com or call 845-758-6822. ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.—Envision Peace is the theme of a concert on Thursday, April 15, at Bard College. The program, presented by the Jewish and Muslim Student Organizations, will feature a performance by Atzilut, a joint Arab and Jewish 10-person ensemble that has been described as "North Africa and the Middle East meets modern jazz."
The Envision Peace Concert is the brainchild of a joint meeting of the Jewish Student Organization and Muslim Student Organization. Demoralized by the persistent and horrific struggles in the Middle East, these groups, which respectfully share a space at Bard and regularly attend each other's events, wanted to bring an inspiring and unified statement to campus, explains Bard’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi Goldie Milgram.
Atzilut delivers virtuoso vocals with lightning percussion and hypnotic mystical melodies. Instrumentation includes oud, nai, violin, flute, double reeds, flute, bass, Arabic vocals, cantorial vocals, and four percussionists. Gold is a recording artist, composer, and director of C-DEEP, where she directs teachings of devotional and ecstatic practice.
This program is funded by the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, Hillel Foundation, Bard Chaplaincy, the Office of Student Activities, Jazz at Bard, and the Muslim and Jewish Student Organizations at Bard College.

The Capitol Ensemble

The Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles presents “The Capitol Ensemble”, a unique group of musicians with an eclectic range of repertoire from the Baroque to the Twenty First Century. In addition to the Mozart Viola Quintet in C Major, K-515, the Ensemble will perform Erwin Schulhoff's First String Quartet and music by Los Angeles Jewish composers. Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at 8:00 PM at VBS - 15739 Ventura Boulevard Encino, CA 91436. Admission is free. For more information please call (818) 788.6000 or e-mail jmcla@socal.rr.com

"Sunday Simcha"

Gail Wartell and Michael Atleson are alternate hosts of "Sunday Simcha," a fifteen-year-old Jewish music program airing every Sunday morning from 6:30 to 8:30 am on WMPG, Greater Portland Community Radio, 90.9 and 104.1 FM, also streaming live at www.wmpg.org. Gail has been a host of the program for about 7 years. The program features an eclectic blend of Jewish music from across the diaspora, including traditional, sacred, Sephardic, Eastern European, folk, rock, and "cutting edge" jazz and klezmer. They also provide news and announcements for the Maine Jewish community and occasionally mix in a dose of Jewish humor. Gail and Michael can be reached at WMPG-FM, 96 Falmouth Street, Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300, or you may contact Michael via e-mail at michael.kate@rcn.com.