Amsterdamse Muziekgebouw International Jewish Music Festival 2008

Van 9 tot en met 11 mei 2008 zal in het Amsterdamse Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ een driedaags concours van Joodse muziek worden gehouden. Kaartverkoop is net van start gegaan.

Uit 16 landen zijn inmiddels 25 ensembles uit uiteenlopende genres gekozen om deel te nemen. Zij zullen volks- en popmuziek, klezmer, klassiek en balkanmuziek ten gehore brengen. De vertegenwoordigde landen zijn Wit-Rusland, Servië, Duitsland, Frankrijk, België, Italië, Engeland, Israël, Argentinië, Griekenland, Venezuela, Chili, Mexico, de Verenigde Staten en natuurlijk ook Nederland. De deelnemers aan het concours strijden niet alleen om prijzengeld, maar ook om een concerttournee en een professioneel cd-opnamecontract met Universal Records. Met deze prijzen heeft het festival niet alleen amateurs aangetrokken, maar ook de doorgewinterde bands en ensembles.

Het concours is onderdeel van een groots festival, met o.a. workshops Jiddisj zang en Joodse gospel, een masterclass klezmermuziek, een uitgebreid kinderprogramma in de klezmerklankspeeltuin, een informatiemarkt voor Joodse cultuurorganisaties, en een prachtige kunstinstallatie. En 'last but not least' sluit het festival groots af op maandagavond 12 mei (tweede Pinksterdag) in de Grote Zaal waar Grammy Award-winnaar The Klezmatics hun eerste concert in Nederland sinds 5 jaar geven.

Actuele informatie over het festival vindt u op www.ijmf.org en kaarten zijn te bestellen op www.muziekgebouw.nl of telefonisch via 020 788 2000.

Met vriendelijke groet,

International Jewish Music Festival 2008
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
9 t/m 12 mei 2008


Greetings,

Ticket sales have begun for the International Jewish Music Festival! 25 ensembles from 16 countries have been invited to participate in a 3-day competition of Jewish Music: diverse groups will present everything from folk and pop to klezmer and classical music. They'll be competing for a chance at a recording contract and a concert tour - prizes which have drawn not just amateurs but experienced professionals as well.

To close the festival, the Grammy Award winning The Klezmatics will give their first concert in Amsterdam in five years. And there are many other exciting things planned. See the most up-to-date information about the festival online at www.ijmf.org. Tickets can be ordered via www.muziekgebouw.nl or by telephone: +31 20 788 2000.

All the best,

International Jewish Music Festival 2008
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
9-12 May 2008

Jewish Music Festival to be at Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam

From May 9-12, 2008, Amsterdam’s new concert hall, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, will host the premiere of the International Jewish Music Festival in its new format. The main event of the festival will be a 3-day Competition for Jewish music ensembles.

For the first time ever, a jury of international Jewish music experts will judge a competition for musicians and ensembles with a goal of an international career focusing on Jewish music. This includes folk, pop, klezmer, classical, and liturgical music, and music by Jewish composers with clearly discernible Jewish elements.

Contestants are welcome from all countries and do not need to be Jewish, but must be 16 years or older. Registration forms & more information are now available online: www.ijmf.org

The jury will include leading figures from the music and recording industry including Peter van der Heyden (Universal Music) and Frank London (The Klezmatics). Besides prize money, the musicians will be competing for the possibility of a professional recording contract. That prize alone is already drawing a high level of contestants, including professional bands and ensembles.

The Muziekgebouw's 100-seat BAM Hall will house the competition’s first rounds, and the 725-seat Main Hall will be the scene of the Finale.

March 1, 2008 - Registration closes Please take a minute to look at the IJMF website, www.ijmf.org.

It's Always Closer Than You Think

The deadline for submissions to the Shalshelet liturgical music competition is November 1, 2007, which is closer than you think, if you are preparing to compose a musical composition. The composition can be by a professional, or a student over 18 (or under 18 with parental signature), and can be a musical choral work, a simple melody or melody with instruments. The purpose is for a composition for a sacred Jewish text, must be original, and not previously published. All the rules of the competition are available at their website. For those who may have a curiousity about American-based Jewish liturgical music, or those who have a serious interest in entering, click here: http://www.shalshelet.org/Submission.html.

The 2008 Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music will be held June 15, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can find out more about the organization by viewing the website or contacting:
Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music
P.O. Box 15836
Chevy Chase, MD 20825
301-588-7768
Shalshelet@NewJewishMusic.com

Composition Competition

American Recorder Society ▪ Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet ▪ Composition Competition

The American Recorder Society, in collaboration with the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet (ALSQ), is pleased to announce its composition competition for recorder music. The competition’s goal is to expand the recorder quartet repertoire with new music for professional recorder players by composers from the United States and Canada.

Further information on ALSQ is available on their web site: http://www.loekistardust.nl/html_en/index.html Entries will be evaluated by members of the ALSQ and Dutch composer Peter-Jan Wagemans. The quartet will premiere the first prize composition during the American segment of their Flutes on Fire tour in February 2008. At the discretion of ALSQ, second and third prize compositions may also be performed during this segment of the tour. The 2008 Flutes on Fire tour will include additional venues in Japan, Taiwan, and Europe. Winning compositions may be selected by the quartet’s agents for performance at one or more of these locations.

The first prize composition will be featured on a CD of music by American composers to be released by ALSQ in 2008 on the Channel Classics label. At the discretion of ALSQ, second and third prize compositions may be included on the recording. The CD insert will include a brief biography of the composer(s).

The program proposed for the Flutes on Fire U.S. tour will feature new waves in contemporary repertoire for the recorder. The winning pieces from the competition will join works by American composer Kenji Bunch, Great Britain’s rising star Graham Fitkin, Russian Hindemith award winner Lara Auerbach and Dutch enfant terrible Jacob ter Veldhuis.

Compositions may include any sizes of recorder, and may require that players switch between sizes, as long as there is sufficient time to do so. Composers may explore avant-garde techniques such as blowing across the mouthpiece, flutter tonguing, etc. Descriptions of sizes and ranges of the recorder will be available on the ARS web site:
www.americanrecorder.org. Further information on ALSQ is available on their web site:
http://www.loekistardust.nl/html_en/index.html

Composition Criteria: Quartet with any size, combination of recorders.

Composer residency: United States or Canada; no age limits
Time duration: 7-10 minutes
Level: For Professional Recorder Players
Judges: ALSQ members and one European composer
Prizes: $1500 First Prize, $750 Second Prize, $500 Third Prize
Entry fee: $75 for the first score, $30 thereafter for each successive score
Important dates:
*September 10, 2007 --Deadline forentries
*January 2008 --Winner announced
*February 2008 --Composition performed on US tour of ALSQ 2008
*Composition recorded by ALSQ

Beth Schafer Wins American Idol Underground Faith-Based Category

Beth Schafer, a contemporary American Jewish music singer-songwriter, won the Faith-based category in a contest sponsored by American Idol Underground (the online extension of the popular TV series American Idol) on July 15, 2006. Primarily a venue for Christian religious song, Beth may have had the only Jewish entry. Her English language songs, Still Small Voice and Love Multiples won an elimination round of 10 from a field of over 600 songs, and then went on to win by a popularity vote, with the public voting on their favorites. Both of these songs are from Beth's newest CD "The Quest and the Question", released in December, 2005. Beth is a cantorial singer with Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo, FL. For more information on Beth and her work visit: www.bethschafer.com or call 407-342-2027. Her CDs are available through soundswrite.com and CDBaby.com

The Young Composers Award Competition

The Guild of Temple Musicians Announces
The Young Composers Award

The requested 2007 work is a set of 3 pieces performable as separate pieces OR as a unit, with or without narrator. The work should be 10-12 performing minutes for cantor, SATB volunteer choir, piano and a single instrument obligato (i.e., flute, violin, violoncello or other instrument approved by chair before submission). The work should be in Hebrew, using texts from Jewish liturgy, Bible, Jewish poetry or prose, or a combination of the foregoing.

Deadline: Friday, January 5, 2007 (postmarked).
Eligibility: Jewish composers from any country born on or after January 1, 1972.
Scores submitted to: Chairman Ben Steinberg, Composer-in-Residence, Temple Sinai Congregation 210 Wilson Avenue, Toronto, ONTARIO M5M 3B1 CANADA. TEL.: (416) 487-4161. FAX: (416) 487-5499.

All musical questions should be directed to Dr. Steinberg at the number above. Additional information may be obtained from GTM Vice-President for Publicity: Jayson Rodovsky at: JRodovsky@urj.org

Shalshelet Second International Music Festival

Winning Composers Spanning the Globe Featured At Shalshelet s Second International Music Festival

CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND -- Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music, announced the names of the 28 composers whose 36 compositions will be presented during the Second International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music on Sunday, June 11 at Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase, Maryland (8300 Meadowbrook Lane). The 7 p.m. concert will feature 15 of these liturgical works, and the day-long Festival, beginning at 10 a.m., will showcase the remainder of the compositions.

Tickets: In advance concert only: $20; workshops & brunch: $30; concert and workshops & brunch: $40. Purchase tickets: send a check payable to Shalshelet, PO Box 15836, Chevy Chase, MD 20825 or www.shalshelet.org. At the door additional $5 for each event.

Building on the success of the inaugural Festival in November 2004, this year s submissions totaled more than 300 from 107 composers across the U.S., as well as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel and Uganda. The winning composers comprise a diverse group geographically and musically, and in their Jewish affiliations and practices -- Rabbis and Cantors, teachers and students, and those with primary occupations outside the Jewish and music worlds. The compositions include tunes for congregational singing, cantorial solos, and choral pieces in styles ranging from Hasidic to jazz, classical, South American and American pop.

I am in awe, overwhelmed with delight, said Hazzan Dr. Ramón Tasat, Shalshelet s president. That the numbers have doubled this year twice as many submissions by twice as many composers this is nothing short of amazing. It is a testament to the contribution Shalshelet continues to make as an essential outlet for liturgical music, he added.

Shalshelet encourages submissions (using a blind review process) from amateur and professional musicians. The music review committee consists of three highly accomplished musicians -- Hazzan Dr. Ramón Tasat, Hazzan Natasha J. Hirschhorn and Dr. Norma Brooks. (committee members bios attached)

The Festival is designed to provide an opportunity for the audience to hear traditional Jewish texts in fresh musical settings, and to learn from the composers. This year s program includes a Sunday evening concert and Sunday morning workshops with composers, focusing on four liturgical themes: Shabbat, Psalms (Tehillim), Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) and Unusual Texts. The Sunday morning presentations and brunch allow for lively discussions of the creative process and musical approaches to text.

Shalshelet (Hebrew for chain ) was established as a non-profit in 2003 to encourage the creation of original Jewish liturgical music. The Foundation s mission is to build bridges within the Jewish community and beyond, by exposing a wider audience to Jewish religious music in creative ways.

Varshavsky-Shapiro Piano Duo win Second Place in Miami

Israelis Stanislava Varshavsky and Diana Shapiro won Second place in Dec, 2005, at the 10th Dranoff International Two Piano Competition, held in Miami, Florida. Competing against the top piano duos in the world, the Israelis finished second with the pianists from Japan, Kuni Seo and Shin-ichiro Kato finishing first place Gold Medal. The Murray Dranoff Foundation was created in 1987 by Loretta Dranoff as a tribute to her late husband with whom she performed as an internationally recognized two piano team. The second prize, the Silver Medal comes with a $15,000 award. Another Israeli, Michael Tsalka from Tel Aviv finished 9th place with partner Katarzyna Marzec-Salwinski from Krakow, Poland.

Varshavski and Shapiro started playing together as a duo in 1998. In 2004 they won The Grand Prize at the 15th Piano Competition in Rome for duo piano and 1st prize for piano four hands. In 2004 they also won the first prize at the “Kol HaMusica” Young Artists Competition in Jerusalem. Between 1999 and 2003 they have won prizes in the Czech Republic, Miami, Jerusalem, Munich and Poland. The duo currently live in Cambridge, MA and study at the Longy School of Music in the class of American pianist Victor Rosenbaum. They maintain a website at http://www.piano-4-hands.com/

Shalshelet Composition Competition

Got music? Shalshelet, the Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music, is accepting submissions of original compositions for the Second International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music, to be held in June 2006. The deadline for submissions is December 30, 2005. Shalshelet encourages the creation of compositions that enhance congregational worship and help Jews rediscover prayer through music. The best of submitted compositions are featured in an annual concert, workshops, and CD. For submission guidelines and more information, go to www.shalshelet.org.

HAIFA INTERNATIONAL FLUTE COMPETITION 2005

November 17-23, Haifa, Israel
Music Director: Ada Pelleg
Music Advisor: Yossi Arnheim
Presented by the Haifa Music Center
32 A Kadima St. HAIFA 34383 ISRAEL
Tel. 972-4-8223440 Fax. 972-4-8387382
http://haifamusic.co.il/Flute/ Jury:
Andras Adorian (Germany),
Uri Shoham (Israel),
Raffaele Trevisani (Italy),
Yehezikiel Braun (Israel),
Ada Pelleg (Israel)
Prizes and Awards:
1st place - 10,000 NIS (�)
In memory of Ilan Shapira Given by the Israeli Ministry of Education, Culture & Sports
2nd place - 5,000 NIS (�)
Given by the Haifa Cultural Foundation
3rd place - 2,500 NIS (�)
Given by the Round Table 14 Haifa -Israel

Additional Prizes:
Invitation to perform with the Israel String Ensemble
Invitation to perform in Safed Music Festival

Shalshelet 2004: Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music

Concert!
Saturday, November 13, 2004, 8:00 p.m.
Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, MD

Featuring 15 New Compositions and workshops on Sunday and Much more!...Some of the finest new composers have been submitting compositions, and the results are in... Please visit -
http://www.shalshelet.org/english/Festival.html

Featuring 15 New Compositions

The Peace of Jerusalem by Emil Berkovits (Florida, USA)
Shalom Aleichem by Carol Boyd Leon (Virginia, USA)
Hashkiveinu by Steve Dropkin (Alabama, USA)
Sim Shalom by Mary Feinsinger (New York, USA)
Modim Anachnu Lach by Ariel Foigel and Hern�n Rog (Santiago, Chile)
VeHeishiv Lev by Sylvia F. Goldstein (Connecticut, USA)
El Adon by Terry S. Horowit (Maryland, USA)
Neshama Shenatata Bi by Terry S. Horowit (Maryland, USA)
El Adon by Shirona Kaufman (New York, USA)
Har'ini by Shirona Kaufman (New York, USA)
Shalom Aleichem by Jeff Marder (Nevada, USA)
Mipi Eil by Wendy Morrison (Maryland, USA)
Al Ken Nekaveh by Ken Richmond (New York, USA)
Yedid Nefesh by Rebecca Schwartz (Pennsylvania, USA)
Lekhu Neranena by Rabbi Gershom Sizomu (California, USA; Uganda)

Workshops

Sunday, November 14, 2004 1:30-5:00 p.m.
Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, MD

A. Meet the Composers

What is involved in the birth of a new melody? How do composers choose a text and craft a melody? (Or does the text choose them?) Meet the composers featured in Saturday's concert, and learn their answers to these questions and others about the composing process. (90 minutes)
* Avinu Shebashamayim, by Emil Berkovits
* Yevarekhekha, by Mary Feinsinger
* Shiviti, by Sylvia F. Goldstein
* Har'ini, by Shirona Kaufman
* Shalom Aleikhem, by Jeff Marder
* Tzur MiShelo, by Wendy Morrison
* Psalm 92 and Yigdal, by Ken Richmond
* Birkat HaNerot, by Rebecca Schwartz

B. Shivim Panim laTefilla
(Seventy Faces of Prayer)
Over the centuries, the much-loved texts Ashrei, El Adon, Hashkiveinu, and Sim Shalom have inspired melodies by Jewish composers from around the world. Listen to and compare different settings of these familiar texts by some of Shalshelet's inaugural festival winners. (50 minutes)
* Ashrei, by Fred A. Blumenthal (Missouri, USA)
* Ashrei, by Keith G. Miller(California, USA)
* El Adon, by Terry S. Horowit
* El Adon, by Shirona Kaufman
* Hashkiveinu, by Steve Dropkin
* Hashkiveinu, by Evette Nan Katlin (New Jersey, USA)
* Hashkiveinu, by Ira Scott Levin (California, USA)
* Sim Shalom, by Mary Feinsinger
* Sim Shalom, by Lawrence Rush (New York, USA)

C. Music for Less Common Texts
Just as some Jewish texts have many asssociated melodies, other texts are still waiting for composers to find them. Shalshelet has unearthed melodies for some less commonly sung texts. Come listen to and learn a few. (50 minutes)
* Eli, Eli, Lamo Azovtanu, by Stephen DeCesare (Michigan, USA)
* VeHeishiv Lev, by Sylvia F. Goldstein
* Ilu Finu, by Terry S. Horowit
* Nakum Uvaninu, by Carol Boyd Leon
* Im Ein Anu Li Mi Li, by Wendy Morrison
Tickets are available from:
Temple Shalom
8401 Grubb Road
> Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Tel. 301-587-2273
Fax 301-588-9368
or online at www.shalshelet.org
Concert and workshops:
$30 in advance
$35 at the door

Concert only:
$20 in advance
$25 at the door

Children 16 and under admitted free

Workshops only:
$15 at the door

Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music

Submit newly composed liturgical compositions by March 30, 2004...

--Chevy Chase, MD-- Announcing the Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music November 13�14, 2004 Deadline for submissions: March 30, 2004 Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music seeks to foster new music for Jewish congregational use and expose wider audiences to innovations in Jewish religious music. Shalshelet promotes the creation and spread of new Jewish liturgical music.
Through the annual Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music, along with accompanying publications, such as a festival CD and songbook, Shalshelet provides a venue for composers to share their music.
A musical composition submitted --must enhance congregational worship;
--must have been written less than two years prior to the Festival;
--must accompany a Jewish sacred text, taking care to capture the spirit and importance of the text; and
--must not have been previously published or performed at a major music festival.
The application process is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, Jewish affiliation, musical background, or professional experience. A music committee will review submissions with the support of advisory members. Submissions may be selected for performance, publication, or both. For an application and more information, e-mail Shalshelet@NewJewishMusic.com or visit http://www.Shalshelet.org. Shalshelet
P.O. Box 15836
Chevy Chase, MD 20825
301-907-3336
Shalshelet@NewJewishMusic.com

20th Zimriya: World Assembly of Choirs in Israel

The 20th Zimriya: World Assembly of Choirs in Israel

August 2-12, August, 2004

Choirs from all over the world are invited once more to come to the Zimriya in Jeruslam.

Youth Choirs (14 years and above) are welcome. Participants will stay on the beautiful campus of the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus overlooking Jerusalem of Gold. Workshops will be held during the day. Open Singing, Choir to Choir sessions and Concerts will take plae at night. World famous conductors will dlead workshops. choirs will tour Jerusalem and will give concerts at various locations in Israel. Payment for 10 days board and lodging as well as tours is $475 US per person. Choirs interested in attending are requested to contact:
Zimriya
4, Aharonowitz Street, Tel Aviv 63 566, Israel
Tel: +972-3-528-0233
Fax: +972-3-629-9524
Email: harzimco@netvision.net.il
http://www.zimriya.org.il

Composers Competition

2nd Annual International Composers Competition

2nd Annual International Composers Competition

Prizes: Performance and recording in New York's Lincoln Center in Spring 2004.

1st: $1,000
2nd: $800
3rd: $700
4th: $500

STUDIO for New Music (NY) comprises many of NY's finest performers, including members of NY Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Ensemble Sospeso, Continuum and faculty from The Juilliard School.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION http://studiofornewmusic.pmail.biz/pmailweb/ct?id=27+9034753+24+2
www.STUDIOforNewMusic.com