Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

Tuba Soloist William Nakamura Featured in TICO Concert

The tuba soloist, William Nakamura, did a fine job making the tuba, that elephant of the orchestra, sound beautiful and negotiating the hopping, kangaroo-like leaps with agility. As the printed program notes explained, the work was inspired by the kangaroo-rat of Death Valley. [Eileen Wingard]

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Tu B’Shevat Coloring Pages for Children and Adults

With Tu B’Shvat coming on Feb. 13, I found these coloring pages from Joanne Fink Judaica to be printed and colored. As the weather seems to be a bit dreary with possible rain, I thought a fun indoor activity would be nice to share with you all. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Drumatix Performance Features Percussion and Improvisation

The ensemble consisted of seven members, one being a male. Each one had a unique style and “voice” in their way of dancing, interacting with the audience, and the general presence on stage. While each was different, together they created a cohesive experience for the viewers that was incredibly engaging. The performance was full of surprising props that one would not consider instruments such as spoons and bubble wrap as well as traditional instruments such as drums, and a keyboard. [Miriam Gershenson]

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Albert Kreimerman, Israel, Miriam Gershenson, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Janis Ian in ‘Breaking Silence’ Tells of Being an Ugly Girl at 17, Interracial Dating, Her Lesbian Choice

The audience at the Jewish Community Center who attended Breaking Silence: The Story of Janis Ian truly got a special treat, with the singer/ songwriter herself in attendance to answer questions from the crowd. [Sandy Scheller]

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Jewish Celebrities, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Jewish Biography: Fromental Halévy, Composer of Operas and Jewish Sacred Music

Halévy’s seminal work is the opera The Jewess (La Juive), which became one of the cornerstones of the French repertoire for a century. It was a grand opera in five acts, including ballet, choruses, spectacular processions and festivities. The premiere of the opera, based on a libretto by the famous French playwright Eugène Scribe, was a colossal success at the Grand Opera House in Paris on February 23, 1835. [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

San Diego-Based Photographer Specializes in Dog Portraits

Bayer is a pet photographer who comes to you and travels the country. Although San Diego is her home base, she and her husband spend a better part of the year traveling the country in their Airstream, taking photos for both private and commercial clients. [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Times of San Diego, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

TICO Concert at LFJCC Captivates with Beethoven’s 5th and Romero

Amos explained his choice of piece, noting that the symphony played a significant role during World War II, with the first four notes famously symbolizing the Morse code for “V” — the letter for “Victory.” This symbolic connection made it a particularly poignant selection on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Sandy Scheller)

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Holocaust, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sandra Scheller, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Rain, Human Kindness Give Hope Amid Wildfires

We all breathed a sigh of relief with the little bit of rain that came in over the weekend to help  extinguish the fires in Los Angeles and around San Diego County. As I checked my alerts on my phone, these fires are still not 100% contained. They are still active. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, Trivia, Humor & Satire

Jewish Biography: Giacomo Meyerbeer, Opera Impresario

Meyerbeer’s vast fortune and the great success of his operas, as well as his observance of the laws of the Jewish religion, set him apart from many musicians. He was a sponsor of many young composers, including Wagner, who “thanked” him with an antisemitic article, “Jewry in Music.” [Alex Gordon]

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Alex Gordon, Antisemitism, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley (January 20, 1952) is an American musician who was the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss from the band’s inception in 1973 to their retirement in 2023. He was the writer or co-writer of many of the band’s most popular songs. [Wikipedia]

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Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Katey Sagal

Katey Sagal (January 19, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Peggy Bundy on Married… with Children (1987–1997), Leela on Futurama (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2023–present), Cate Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005), Gemma Teller Morrow on the FX series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014), for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2011, and Louise Goldufski-Conner on The Conners (2018–present). [Wikipedia]

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Jewish Celebrities, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Kol Tefillah Band Specializes in Music for Praying and Reflecting

Something ignited when Debbie Mishek, M.D., traveled to Congregation Beth Am in Los Angeles to attend a presentation about Kol Tefillah (The Voice of Prayer) a few years ago.  The program was about “reimagining Jewish prayer and making it more relevant and more inspiring,” the developmental pediatrician recalled.  “There is something about music and prayer that is so spiritual.  I access my spirituality through music.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors