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, Y’rushalayim, L’Shana Habaa, and Hatikvah featuring the combined choirs of each of the “Sing Out!” performances on April 3.
For many the “Sing Out!” performances at the Lawrence Family JCC will be a family affair. Cantor Lori Willinsky Frank, the long-time cantor of Temple Adat Shalom, soloist for their Adult Choir under Jane Masur, and director of their Junior Choir, will be joined at the 1:00 p.m. program by her husband, Jeff Frank, sports columnist, who sings in the Menschtones.
The director of Temple Adat Shalom’s Menschtones (Men’s Barbershop Ensemble) is David Garstang, and his daughter, Jennifer Garstang, directs the temple’s Youth Choir. The Youth Choir will be the opening group on the 1:00 p.m. show.
Lana Schaffer , a member of Bracha Crayk’s San Diego Women’s Choir/Sisterhood Shira , will be singing along with her husband, Albert Schaffer, a member of the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir under Ruth Yanez-Lopez. The Schaffers will share the stage during the final number of the combined choirs at the 4:00 p.m. program.
A family which will be strongly represented is the family of Andrew Mayer. Not only is he the pianist for Beth Israel’s Sabbath and Festival Choir and their Teen and Youth Choir, but he is also the composer of Anim Z’mirot, the song which will be performed by Beth Israel’s two choirs and their Chai Band with Cantor Arlene Bernstein as soloist. All three of Mayer’s sons, Isaac, Gabriel and Sebastian sing in the Teen and Youth Choir under Cantor Arlene Bernstein. They will be participating in the 4:00 p.m. program.
The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s Music Series Committee under the leadership of Sylvia Bendelstein hopes family members of the participating choirs as well as the community-at-large will come to enjoy listening to the wonderful variety of Jewish Music to be sung by the five San Diego County Jewish adult choirs and the five young people’s choirs participating in “Sing Out!” San Diego Jewish Choir Festival. For tickets, $18 general, $15 JCC members, call 858-362-1348