WEST BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Area Jewish Community will welcome nationally-famed performer, teacher, and composer Cantor Linda Hirschhorn for a weeklong artist-in-residence program on Oct. 30 through Nov. 3.
Hirschhorn is the founder of Vocolot, the first Jewish women's a cappella ensemble, and has released two songbooks and eight recordings of original material.
Her songs and choral arrangements have been published in major Jewish and folk anthologies, are performed by professional and amateur groups around the world, and have been used in video, radio documentaries, and dance scores.
She has been Cantor at Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro, California, since 1988, where she recently became sole clergy.
Cantor Hirschhorn will offer three workshop/rehearsals for people of all ages and backgrounds. Workshops will take place at BAJC, 151 Greenleaf St., at 5:30 to 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31 and Nov. 1, with a break for supper (provided by BAJC).
Workshops are open to all, regardless of age, musical background, or religious affiliation. Cantor Hirschhorn has provided sheet music so that volunteer singers can begin to prepare in advance if they wish. Please contact Cantor Kate Judd (kate@bajcvermont.org) for the music.
A pre-workshop run-through of music can be arranged with Judd. At the end of the week, the intergenerational choir that has been working to learn Hirschhorn's songs will sing at a Friday night service with her and share in a final concert program with her on Saturday night that is open to the public.
The service and concert will take place at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Brattleboro. There will be a nominal admission charge for the Saturday concert with details to follow at a later date.
In a news release, Cantor Hirschhorn writes that “my music ranges from simple to complex to satisfy and challenge inexperienced and experienced singers alike. The words are often taken from traditional liturgy and text with an emphasis on the values of peace and justice that are so strongly rooted in our Jewish traditions. Half of the concert will be a performance by the community chorus and for the other half I will perform original songs and stories.”