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September 13, 2002/Tishri 7 5762, Vol. 55, No. 3
Harmonizing generationsHar Zion features multigenerational choir
LEISAH NAMM
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 Members of the multigenerational choir at Har Zion Congregation include, from left, Daniel Ference, Sue Stegman, Marc Troisi, Esther Kunin and Ann Bernstein. Photo courtesy of Susan Ference |
This concept is based on a cantorial musical tradition, Savitz says. For hundreds of years, most of the choirs in Eastern Europe were like this, he says, and many famous cantors started out as child singers or soloists in choirs.
He says he chose to make it multigenerational because "it gets more people in the congregation involved at the same time" and because a "choir should be an extension of the congregation."
The 13-members, who have rehearsed semi-weekly since July 16 for the synagogue's High Holiday services, range from ages 13 to 85.
"The younger people seem to be a little more excited about it and they bring a nice variety to the group," says Sue Stegman, a Har Zion member since 1982 who has performed for three years in the congregation's past choirs.
The group's premiere performance was Aug. 31 for the synagogue's Selichot service. Savitz would like the choir to continue after the High Holidays, perhaps performing at Shabbat services or in the community, but nothing has been finalized.
Currently, the multigenerational version is the synagogue's only choir, although Savitz has considered starting a junior choir. For now, it's "really a means of bringing everybody together at the same time instead of fragmenting the choir into individual parts," he says.
"I have really enjoyed getting to know all the members of the choir," says Daniel Ference, 13, who is also a member of the Advanced Boy's Chorus at Sunrise Middle School. "It is a different experience for me to work with adults who have more seasoned voices than the students my age which I sing with at school."
"Everyone in the choir is like family," says Donna Troisi, a member of the choir with son Marc. "We truly care and look out for each other."
Besides the Troisis, the choir includes husband and wife Harvey and Evelyn Renner and Stephanie and Frank Jacobson with daughter Ashley.
Ference says he feels privileged to be a part of the choir. "I think more kids should look at this as an opportunity to stay connected to their synagogue in a wonderful way."