How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Calling talented young vocalists!

Dr. Steve Singer, in his third year as conductor of the Chicago chapter of HaZamir: International Jewish Teen Choir, is seeking musically talented eighth to twelfth graders. Open auditions will be held in September.

The ability to read music or Hebrew is not required. “You just have to be ready to share your voice,” Singer said.

HaZamir currently has 35 chapters across the U.S. and in Israel and is made up of Jewish high schoolers who perform on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Carnegie Hall. Through music, they learn about Jewish history and culture, while forming deep connections to Israel. They also build confidence as well as friendships with teens from diverse Jewish, educational, and cultural backgrounds.

Singer deeply believes in the power of Jewish song to build connection and literacy. “Singing is an amazing tool for Jewish engagement,” he explained. “We want young Jewish vocalists to create something beautiful and powerful together and see value in hard work. We know it works because many HaZamirniks become our next musical and community leaders.”

Throughout the course of a year, the chapters learn the same musical repertoire each year and, ultimately, form one international ensemble of hundreds of teens. The music ranges from traditional liturgy to contemporary Israeli hits, plus new works commissioned from top composers by the Zamir Choral Foundation, HaZamir’s parent organization.

“Because HaZamir brings together hundreds of Jewish teens who all have a love of singing, it has given me the opportunity to make many great friends in Chicago and from all over the world, said Josh Koplow, a member of HaZamir and student at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. “I always feel very empowered by singing with the rest of the choir because I’m using my voice to express pride for my Jewish identity and for Israel.”

In addition to leading Chicago’s HaZamir’s choir, Singer is the founder and musical director of Chicago’s Listen Up! Jewish Vocal Band, and enjoys singing at Skokie’s Congregation Or Torah. He discovered Jewish music as a camper at OSRUI and Habonim Camp Tavor. He even toured the former Soviet Union with his college glee club and performed in the Los Angeles Bach Festival.

Singer holds a doctorate in molecular neuropharmacology, and recently served on the board of JUF’s Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics. His next project is The Jewish Song Show, a podcast in which experts tell the stories behind classic Jewish songs.

To schedule an audition for the Chicago chapter of HaZamir, contact Singer at [email protected] or visit bit.ly/chicagohazamir. To learn more about HaZamir, visit hazamir.org.