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Zehava Gal
Israeli born-American based mezzo-soprano. Teacher and Vocal coach. Discovered by Jennie Tourel. Studied voice at the Juilliard School of Music and Piano at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem. Ms. Gal won prestigious awards such as the Paris and Munich International Voice Competition, and Young Concert Artists in NY. Gal has sung at top opera houses and festivals all over the world, such as La Scala, Paris, Covent garden, Vienna, Glyndebourne, Santa Fe, & Pesaro. Gal sung with conductors such as Von Karajan, Abbado, Mehta, and with major orchestras such as New York, Israel and the Berlin Philharmonic. Gal has appeared in the title role of Carmen in Peter Brook' s Theatre and Film production of La Tragedie de Carmen. Gal
has recorded for major record labels including RCA, CBS, Philips and
EMI. Since 1994, Ms. Gal holds a teaching position at the Westminster
Choir College, Princeton, N.J., and a private studio in NYC. As an
extremely well received master teacher, Gal has been invited to give
Master Classes and Seminars at top conservatories and voice
organizations around the world. For a more complete biography, see her website.
http://www.voicebygal.com/
Regina Gans
Born 1880. Died, 1908. singer. Some papers held at the Western Jewish History Center in Berkeley.
Isabelle Ganz
American singer, composer and educator. Dr. Isabelle Ganz received her D.M.A. in Voice and Music Literature from the Eastman School of Music. She is Director of Music for Congregation Brith Shalom in Houston and is on the Voice Faculty of Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. In 1997 she was a Fulbright Scholar in Jerusalem and taught at Rubin Academy in Israel, and received a NEA Solo Recitalist grant in 1992. Dr. Ganz is a champion of contemporary music. She has performed as vocal soloist with Luciano Berio, John Cage, Lukas Foss, Gerard Schwartz and many other composers and conductors. One of the pioneers in the field of Sephardic music, her New York-based ensemble, ALHAMBRA, founded in 1981, has performed throughout the world. For 20 years she was a cantorial soloist for both Reform and Conservative congregations in the U.S., as well as in Winnipeg, Amsterdam and Munich. She has recorded for the Opus One, Leonarda, Mode, Spectrum, Aulos/Koch/Schwann, Master Musicians Collective and Technosaga labels. Ms. Ganz is listed in the International Who's Who in Music.
http://isabelleganz.org/
Rebecca Garfein
American. Cantor. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Cantor Garfein graduated cum laude from Rice University s Shepherd School of Music with a degree in vocal performance and opera. In 1993, she received her Master s Degree in Sacred Music and Cantorial Investiture from the Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). While completing her studies at HUC-JIR, Cantor Garfein was the Director of Children s Music at Riverdale Temple, Riverdale, the Bronx, New York. While in Israel, she was a featured soloist with the Ra a na na Orchestra and the Zamir Chorale at the Jerusalem Theater in Israel. Upon graduation from HUC-JIR, she subsequently became the first Cantor of Riverdale Temple, and served in that capacity until 1999, when she was the first woman
appointed as Senior Cantor of Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City. In 1997, Cantor Garfein became the first female cantor to give a solo concert at the Jewish Cultural Festival in Berlin Germany, from where her grandfather fled during the Holocaust. At the 1998 Berlin Jewish Cultural Festival, Cantor Garfein became the first female cantor to preside in a German synagogue and released a CD, "Sacred Chants of the Contemporary Synagogue," a live recording of her historic 1997 Berlin concert. In 2001, she was a soloist at the 350th anniversary concert of the Curacao Jewish Community. Cantor Garfein made her Carnegie Hall debut in June, 2005 in a benefit concert for the Folksbiene Yiddish Theater featuring Mandy Patinkin. Accompanying Cantor Garfein, at her concert "Golden Chants: 350 Years of Jewish Music in America" Nov. 10, 2005, at New York s Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, was pianist and musical director Jonathan Faiman, and the "Golden Chants" combo and choir. The CD is "Golden Chants in America...Commemorating 350 years of Jewish Music, 1654-2004" (2005). Cantor Garfein can be reached through an agent, Mike Gellman: m.gellman@att.net
Esther Gerson-Kiwi
Jewish musicologist who worked in Israel. Born in Germany in 1908. She wrote: liner notes to recording: Musik der Bibel in der Tradition althebräischer Melodien. (1950); The Persian doctrine of Dastga-composition: a phenomenological study in the musical modes (1963); Migrations and mutations of the music in East and West : selected writings (1980). Gerson-Kiwi worked extensively with music of Jewish communities outside of Europe.
Miriam Gideon
Information from the recording by CRI on the composer's works. For additional information on Miriam Gideon, see the article by Judith Pinnolis in Women and Music in America Since 1900 vol. I, (Greenwood Press, 2002). Gideon's compositions with Jewish materials include: The Hound of Heaven (1945), How Goodly Are Thy Tents (1947), Adon Olam (1954) , Psalm 84, Three Biblical Masques (1958), Sacred Service (1970), Shirat Miriam L'Shabbat (1974), The Resounding Lyre (1979), and A Woman of Valor (1981).
http://www.composersrecordings.com/cd/782.html
Miriam Gideon: A Jewish Pioneer
Anne Gray's article as published in the IAWM Journal, February 1997, pp. 20, full text.
http://music.acu.edu/www/iawm/articles/feb97/gray.html
see also:
http://koti.mbnet.fi/~hkaivola/gideon.html
Devora Gila
Israeli. Singer/Songwriter. Clarinetist. former Spanish teacher. Native of Long Island, New York. nee Vicki Wiseblatt. B.A. in Linguistics from Harvard College, where she performed with a Renaissance choir, the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, and hosted a jazz program on WHRB radio. While earning an M.A. in Spanish from Middlebury College, she continued her interest in radio broadcast as a DJ for a Spanish music show on WRMC. She performed with award-winning political theater throughout the East Coast, produced an album in Spanish which made its debut in the Caribbean, and sang back-up vocals in Boston's folk scene for singer-songwriter Pat Burtis. Among other interests, she is a former Kripalu yoga instructor and martial arts student. Devora Gila, a now frum vocalist, whose recordings are marked for "women only", has one of the hippest religious recordings around, Hodu Lashem (2003). She writes: "I find the apparent restrictions of 'Kol Ishah' to be liberating. It creates an intimate spiritual musical community among women and connects us through the power of song." Her studies in past years with various vocal traditions and techniques, including classical Indian singing with reknown Hindustani singer and composer Warren Senders, jazz, and "Spiritual Singing", (a methodology developed by faculty of the Metropolitan House of Opera for vocal repair and retraining), has indeed paid off. Devora has a wonderful, sweet voice. Her co-producer, Naor Carmi also worked on the arrangements of her CD which utilize not only contemporary settings, but a variety of styles from Israel-- from modern, to Arab, to classical guitar and Spanish influenced, to contemporary-easy. Particularly nice is the original song "Beloved", based on Song of Songs. Devora's CD is accessible music for anyone. She can be contacted at hodulashem@yahoo.com
Varda Gilboa
Born in Poland in 1914. Composer. Lived in Israel.
Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
Professional Singer/Recording Artist/Educator.She majored in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University School of Music. Ginsburgh "presents over 100 concerts a year in schools, libraries, community centers, museums and festivals throughout North America." She has been a Louisiana State Roster Artist since 1988 and was named the Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year in 1999. "Judy is a three time Parents Choice Foundation Award winner and she has received a Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center." Ginsburgh created a new Jewish Early Childhood Music curriculum with CD called "My Jewish World" for the Union of Reform Judaism and Transcontinental Music.
http://www.judymusic.com/
Frances Gershwin Godowsky
Born, December 26, 1906. Died January 18, 1998. Singer. Sister of George and Ira Gershwin. Often sang Gershwin songs and recorded them.
http://www.spiderjazz.com/html/frankie.htm
Alma Gluck
Nee Riba Fiensohn. Opera Singer. Born Iasi, Romania, May 11, 1884. Immigrated to the US with her family around 1894. Her father Leon was a violinist and her mother Zara had a "beautiful singing voice," although she never did any serious performing. Riba graduated from Hunter College and married Bernard Glick, an insurance executive many years her senior, in 1902. Although an unhappy marriage, Riba had a daughter, the author Marcia Davenport. In 1906, she began to study with Arturo Buzzi-Peccia, one of New York's finest vocal instructors. Riba was signed to the Metropolitan Opera around 1909. When she signed with the Met, Riba took the stage name Alma Gluck with the encouragement of Arturo Toscanini. Her first stage appearance was as Sophie in Massenet's Werther. During that season she sang 11 different roles, of
which 9 had not been studied by her previously. She was one of the first
America artists who gained recognition in opera and on the concert stage
without European training. At the Met, she sang with Caruso, Alessandro Bonci and other greats. She was considered one of the most gifted voices of her day. She was one of the first American artists who gained recognition in opera and on the concert stage without European training. She left the opera after only a couple of years to become a concert singer and make recordings for homesick infantrymen during WWI. Her recording of "Carry Me Back to Old Virginie" became a million-selling record, possibly the first in history (RCA Red Seal). Riba eventually divorced her first husband and married the violinist, Efrom Zimbalist Sr. in 1914. She is the mother of Efrom Zimbalist Jr., an actor, as well as a daughter, Maria. While at the opera, her address was Harbor Head, Fishers Island, NY. She returned from singing to settle in West Hartford, CT, where she became something of a society matron. She died October 27, 1938. A website devoted to Gluck has many family photos at:
http://www.enter.net/~rrm/agluck.htm
Shefa Gold
Rabbi. Composer of spiritual music. Ordained, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Leader in ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and is the director of C-DEEP (Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. 9 CDs. Has written new liturgies and chants.
http://rabbishefagold.com/index.html
Gila Goldstein
Gila Goldstein, a concert pianist from Israel and working in New York has released a new CD Piano Works of Paul Ben Haim. Her website lists upcoming concerts, reviews of her performances and contact information.
http://www.gilagoldstein.com
Sylvia Goldstein
American. Composer, teacher and conductor and singer. Studied at Juilliard School of Music, Preparatory Division 1950 -1953, Cornell University 1953 -1955 (Dean's List), Brandeis University 1955 -1957: B.A. in Music, cum laude, 1957, Phi Beta Kappa, 1997; Longy School of Music from 1955 -1958 and University of California, Berkeley 1960 to 1962: M.A. in Music, 1962. Currently Chair, Piano Department, Hartford Conservatory of Music where she teaches piano and theory. Also serves as temple music director, choir director for Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center, and music history instructor at local colleges. Member of CT State Music Teachers Association, The Music Club of Hartford, The Women Cantors Network and the Guild of Temple Musicians. Her Jewish sacred works include cantorial music for Shabbat, psalms, healing, weddings, nigunim, and general songs on Jewish subjects. She has composed a Hannukkah oratorio. Several compositions are published in anthologies by Transcontinental Music. In 2004, she was winner of the Shalshelet Foundation Competition for New Jewish Liturgical Music.
Trudi Goodman
American. Singer, musician, actor and writer. Sings Yiddish, folk, jazz, American standards. Also worked as teacher, playwright and screenwriter.
Sarah Gorby
Yiddish singer. Born Kishinev, Russia, around 1900. Died Paris, 1980. Recorded songs during the 1940s-1970s in Paris, Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv. At age 17 left Kishinev to study music in Jassy, Romania, where she married. Within a few years she moved to Rome, and then to Paris. In 1940, she and her husband emigrated to Haiti, and eventually to the US. In 1949, she moved back to Paris. Her husband died in 1950 in Haiti. She spoke nine languages fluently. She recorded Yiddish songs for a variety of commercial record companies.
Jean Gornish
American. Born: 1916. Died: 1981. Liturgical singer. Known as "Shaindele Di Chazanit", due to her singing cantorial music. Her father was a chazan in Philadelphia. She sang liturgical music on the radio, at WPEN. She is often called the first woman chazan, but she never served in that capacity. Her papers are held in the Philadelphia Jewish Archive Center
Abby Bernstein Gostein
Cantorial soloist, songleader, music educator, composer of Jewish liturgical music. Grew up in Mt. Vernon, NY. Currently at Temple Beth Shalom in Austin, TX., formerly at Sha'aray Shalom in Hingham, MA (1997-2003), and at Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, (1994-1997). Bachelor, Psychology, Yale University. Masters, Speech-language Pathology from the University of Texas at Austin.
http://www.bethshalomaustin.org/leadership/music.asp
Ayelet Rose Gottlieb
Singer. Composer. Born in Jerusaelm in 1979, Ms. Gottlieb currently resides in NY. Her mother's family traces Sephardic roots to 1492 in Jerusalem. She graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2002. Her debut album CD "Internal-External" with her jazz sextet was chosen as best debut album of 2004 by All About Jazz. Her 10-segment song cycle setting of text from the Song of Songs, "Mayim Rabim" (2006) on Tzadik label received rave reviews in the press. The album also includes Michael Gottlieb- Voice;
Deanna Neil and Michal Cohen- Background Vocals; Michael Winograd- Clarinet, Bass Clarinet; Anat Fort- Piano; Rufus Cappadocia- Five String Cello;
Take Toriyama- Drums and Percussion; and Special Guest- Galeet Dardashti- Persian Trope.
http://www.ayeletrose.com/live/
Joan Geller Grauman
American. accordionist. Play klezmer, Israeli, Jewish and Balkan music.
Cantor Deborah Katchko Gray
American cantor. Currently serves Temple Shearith Israel, Ridgefield, CT. Newest CDs are Jewish Soul and Sacred Spirit. Cantor Katchko states: "As a fourth generation cantor and the second female in a conservative pulpit (1981), I am passionate about sharing the love of Jewish music I grew up with. In l982 I founded the Women Cantors' Network to share that love with others- we have grown to over 300 members with annual conferences, newsletters, online discussions, and web site: www.womencantors.net. In addition, I credit my mentor, Prof. Elie Wiesel, for instilling in me a profound love of Jewish culture and sense of responsibility in sharing it. As a mother of four sons and full time cantor since l981, I have tried to instill a sense of Jewish pride and love of music in everything I do." Cantor Katchko has a discography which includes In Celebration of Israel Independence Day on cassette; Spirited and Soulful on cassette;
Jewish Soul, a CD; (also available digitally online) and KinderSongs, a CD. Both CDs are available through Tara Music. She can be contacted through CantorDKG@aol.com
Noreen Green
Choral and orchestra conductor. Nowakowsky specialist. Conductor, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. (founded in 1994.) DMA, University of Southern California. MM,California State University, Northridge. Conductor, American Jewish Choral Society, 1981-1990. Assistant Professor at CSUN, 1986-1992. West Coast Music Director of David Nowakowsky Foundation, 1992-1998. Music Director of Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue in Encino, 1993 to present. Opening ceremonies of the 2001 Maccabi Games, Philadelphia, conductor. Biography on website:
http://www.lajewishsymphony.com/noreengreen.html
Adrianne Greenbaum
American. Flautist. Professor of Music at Mt Holyoke College. Graduated Oberlin and Yale. Pianist. Founder (1995)and dance leader of The Klezical Tradition band. Solo Flutist of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra New England and the Wall Street Chamber Players. She has a klezmer website: http://www.klezmerflute.com and a biography is available through Mt. Holyoke at:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/music/profiles/greenbaum.html
Judy Greenfeld
Cantor Judy Greenfeld is the founder and spiritual leader of the Nachshon Minyan (www.nachshonminyan.org) in Encino, California. Cantor Judy Greenfeld did her undergraduate work at the University of Arizona and received her ordination as well as a Master s Degree in Jewish Sacred Music from the Academy for Jewish Religion, California (www.ajrca.org), a pluralistic rabbinical and cantorial seminary based in Los Angeles. Cantor Greenfeld is the co-author (with Dr. Tamar Frankiel) of two books, Minding the Temple of the Soul and Entering the Temple of Dreams which detail a new approach to Jewish prayer through movement and meditation. She has lectured and taught movement and prayer at retreats and synagogues around the United States. One of the highlights of Cantor Greenfeld's work with the Nachshon Minyan includes authoring a prayer book which reflects a blending of Conservative and Reform traditions. It will be published by the Ktav Publishing House in 2007 and will be accompanied by a CD now in production. Her latest CD, "When You Lie Down and When You Rise Up: Jewish prayers to begin and end your day in a meaningful way" features original music for evening and morning prayers. A resident of Encino, she is married to Michael Greenfeld and is the proud mother of Samantha and David. Cantor Greenfeld can be reached at CGC1@aol.com. More information about her CD can be found at:
www.nachshonminyan.org/otherWorks.html
Carol Greenspan
Host of "Jewish Spectrum," on KOPN-FM 89.5 radio in Columbia, MO. The show, aired on Sundays, has a broad spectrum of Jewish music, including a healthy dose of Klezmer.
Pouha Greenspoon
Israeli born composer and teacher. Born Jaffa, 1900. Died Tel-Aviv, 1966.
Robin Greenstein
American singer-songwriter from NYC, doing secular, folk, original and Jewish music. She performs and sings in English, Ladino and Yiddish. Robin received a 18 month grant to do music research on Sephardic music from the federal government nearly 25 years ago, and collected Sephardic music from various informants at the Sephardic Home for the Aged in Brooklyn, NY. She performs Sephardic songs at many venues around the US. She has 3 CDs, "AcousticNess" (2000), 11 original songs recorded in New Orleas; "Slow Burn"(1989LP; 1997CD with 12 original songs); and "Images of Women, Vol. 1"(2003), selections traditional folk and blues songs, all about women. Robin was a finalist at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival (1989) in Texas, the premier songwriting festival in the country; has appeared all over at folk festivals and on TV talk shows; and toured worldwide for Martin Guitars.
www.robingreenstein.com
Joy Katzen Guthrie
A cantorial soloist and performer in Florida for over 18 years, Ms. Guthrie concertizes widely and has seven recordings. She writes many original works which are included in her CD's. "Her concerts include liturgical music of the Jewish Kabbalists, Israeli and Yiddish folk tunes, musical stage and film works, and original songs, all of which she uniquely weaves together with history, storytelling, and song." Her website is up-to-date and inclusive of booking and travel information, as well as a bio and CD's, including some lyrics to her albums.
http://www.joyfulnoise.net/Joy.html
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