Jorge Liderman died in California

Jorge Liderman, a well-known composer, died at age 50 in California in February 3, 2008. Liderman, born in Argentina in 1957, went to Israel and received musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. He came to the United States and studied at the University of Chicago. He worked at the music department of the University of California, Berkeley since 1989. Liderman became known as a composer of modern classical music, and also wrote many pieces on Jewish themes. A recording of of his composition of 46 Spanish songs "Aires de Sefarad" was recently reviewed by this author for the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter. [Albany Records TROY829]. He had many works commissioned by major organizations such as the Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and the London Sinfonetta.

Barbara in Berlin

Barbara Streisand sang to a sold out audience of 18,000 people in Berlin, Germany on Saturday, June 30. Streisand even spoke to the crowd in German, and received multiple standing ovations to her concert. Previously Streisand had not sung in European capitals other than London. Reuters reported on the event http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSL2776062320070630

Sid Beckerman Memorial

Sid Beckerman, klezmer clarinetist, beloved teacher and mentor to a generation of klezmorim, passed away on April 4, 2007. A tribute to him will be held Monday, May 21 at 8pm at the Congress for Jewish Culture, 25 E. 21st St. ground floor, Manhattan. Musicians and friends are invited to share a tune or story. Sid's musical partner of many years, Peter Sokolow and his protege Margot Leverett will lead an evening of musical memories. For more information contact Margot Leverett at 718-545-9404 margotlev@gmail.com.

Longy School Famous Faculty Dumont Dies at 94

Long term Longy School of Music faculty member, Lily Dumont, died at the age of 94 at her home, March 6, 2006 in New Bedford, MA. Ms. Dumont was a concert pianist and teacher on the faculty of the Longy School for more than 40 years, and taught privately until around age 92. She was born in Berlin, the daughter of Jakob Dymont, a well-known Jewish synagogue music composer. Lily was famous in her own right before the second world war as a concert pianist, and had already played with many of the leading orchestras in Europe by the time of her departure during the Nazi regime in Germany. Via colleagues in the US, she made her way to New England, and eventually divided time between concertizing world wide, teaching and her family. Ms. Dumont's musical friends and admirers ranked among the most sophisticated in the world. She was a well-loved musician from her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic at age 15 to her final concert in New Bedford's Zeiterion Theatre in 2000. The Boston Globe carried an article about her in the Thursday, March 9, 2006 edition which quoted Raphael Hillyer as saying "With the greatest refinement and with great intensity she performed with a radiance that lighted every work. Her range of expression was astonishing..."

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo Dead at 92

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo z"l died February 21 at around 3am. He had been hospitalized for several days with breathing difficulties. Abraham Lopes Cardozo was born in Amsterdam, Holland on September 27, 1914. He was the great-grandson of the Chief Rabbi in Amsterdam and the son of the choir director of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue there. He came to his American post in 1946 and served Congregation Shearith Israel in New York for over 40 years. Cardozo's recordings from 1959 were recently rereleased in time for the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jews in America, and reviewed by this website: http://www.jmwc.org/NewCDReviews/shearithisraelcds.html

He was a made a Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau by Queen Beatrix of Holland on June 7, 2000. Two years ago the Chazzan celebrated his 90th birthday in Amsterdam. A special tribute program was shown on Dutch television.

Chazzan Abraham Lopes Cardozo
From the Finding Aid at the American Sephardic Federation, Center for Jewish History Created by Randall C. Belinfante

"Abraham Lopes Cardozo was born in Amsterdam, Holland on September 27, 1914. As the great-grandson of the Chief Rabbi of the Sephardim in Amsterdam (who preached the last sermon in Portuguese, and who was later decorated by the King of Holland), and as the son of Joseph Lopes Cardozo, leader of the boy's choir of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, it was fitting that he read his first Haftorah at the age of seven in that same synagogue. He attended Seminary Ets Haim in Amsterdam , and became active in Hagomel, a congregational youth society. In 1939 he was appointed by Queen Wilhemina to be rabbi of the Sephardic congregation in Paramaribo, capital of Surinam. On vacation in New York in 1945 he visited Congregation Shearith Israel in NYC and he liked it. It was mutual, for he was invited by the Congregation to become the Assistant Hazzan there in 1946, a position he held for forty years. In 1987, he released a book and accompanying cassette tapes entitled: Sephardic Songs of Praise. On June 7, 2000, he was knighted by Queen Beatrix of Holland. "

http://www.cjh.org/academic/findingaids/asf/ncprc/LopesCardozoFamily.html

Mike Eisenstadt, z"l , Host of Sunday Simcha Radio dead at 54.

It is with sadness that we recognize, Sunday Simcha, hosted by Mike Eisenstadt is no longer available. Mike died Friday Sept. 2, 2005 from a long battle with cancer at age 54. Eisenstadt hosted the Jewish radio show for over twenty years, starting in 1985. He kept it up continually. and it was the Florida Gulf Coast's only Jewish radio show. To read a tribute to Mike Eisenstadt, go to Tampa Tribune: http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBILX7A5DE.html

Uzi Hitman died in Israel in October

Israeli artist/composer Uzi Hitman died from a heartattack in October. The following articles attest to his popularity: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Printer&cid=1098072900545&p=1062388728699 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/489942.html