Eileen Wingard

By Eileen Wingard Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO — In February, 2002, Neal Brastoff brought the Los Angeles instrumental ensemble, Zimro, to participate in the Celebrating Jewish Music Series at the the Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla, programming Yehudi Wyner’s Tants un Maysele for violin, clarinet, cello and piano. It was a highlight of that […]

By Eileen Wingard Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO —  Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of the greatest exponent of the Yiddish Art Song, Lazar Weiner (1897-1982). His settings of folk songs, and his original music for the work of contemporary Yiddish poets, followed in the tradition of lieder composers such as Schubert, Schumann

By Eileen Wingard SAN DIEGO–Last Sunday afternoon, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, TICO presented a cleverly conceived concert inspired by celestial bodies in space. The music was accompanied by fascinating screen projections assembled by George Varga, astronomy volunteer at Mission Trails Regional Park. I sat next to the editor of sdjewishworld.com and his ten-year-old grandson, who

By Eileen Wingard WASHINGTON, D.C. — A hightlight of the 2011 Lipinsky Jewish Arts Festival at the Lyceum Theatre, The Witches of Lublin, an original audio drama by Ellen Kushner, Elizabeth Schwartz and Yale Strom, directed by Elizabeth Schwartz, proved to be a gripping story, beautifully portrayed by some of the Southland’s most talented actors.

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — The J Company’s presentation of Children of Eden, a delightful musical by Stephen Schwartz, served as a fitting vehicle for the Company’s talented students–over 100 in two casts. The J Company Director, Joey Landwehr, participated in the performance of the biblical saga as the off-stage voice of the

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Some remarkable treasures of poetic talent were unearthed during this year’s Jewish Poets —Jewish Voices evenings! This third year of the poetry series in the Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center included local song writers as well as local poets. On February 22, Mexican-born

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California–Marc Lavry is one of the composers whose song “Emek” will be sung by the Congregation Beth Israel Sabbath and Festival Choir at the 4:00 performance of “Sing Out!” on April 3 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Sharon Russakoff, who will be singing in both the San Diego Jewish Women’s Choir/Sisterhood

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Excitement is mounting as some choirs are scheduling extra rehearsals and all are making time in their practice evenings to allow for the visits of David Amos, conductor and Rhoda Gaylis, pianist. Those two outstanding musicians and community leaders will help prepare the choirs for their final numbers,

By Eileen Wingard   LOS ANGELES–Zubin Mehta entered the stage with measured, regal stride, humbly acknowledging the audience’s tumultuous applause before mounting the podium, like a king ascending his throne.  The Bombay-born musical monarch, now 75 years old, took up his baton, his royal scepter, and began leading his forces.      The loyalty and love