Benjamin Gruder, Ne’imah Jewish Community Chorus music director, center, with Josie Kivort, board member, left, and Sherry Kearns, president of Ne’imah, in July at the North American Jewish Choral Festival in Stamford, Conn. Were they scouting for new compositions for this season?
The Ne’imah Jewish Community Chorus has slated rehearsals and performances with practice sessions beginning on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 4 – 6 p.m. at B’nai Shalom Synagogue at 420 Whitehall Rd., Albany. Rehearsals will be at that time and place throughout the year. The chorus will conclude the 2025/26 year with a concert planned for Sunday, May 31.
According to Ne’imah members, Ne’imah offers a serious learning opportunity for singers and audiences as it performs a variety of classical and contemporary compositions in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino. The chorus sings arrangements of psalms, Shabbat and holiday melodies, and occasional Broadway songs written by Jewish composers.
Community members who love to sing, whether they have sung in a chorus or not, are invited to consider joining the non-audition chorus under the baton of Music Director Benjamin Gruder.
Prior to the pandemic, Ne’imah had been a part of the Capital District music community for 28 years and now hopes to resume full activity.
Sherry Kearns, co-president of Ne’imah, at sherrykearns33@yahoo.com has asked interested individuals to e-mail her so that she may add names to the organization’s e-mail list and answer questions. She has requested that those attending the first rehearsal on Sunday, Sept. 14, bring a 3-ring black binder and a pencil.
Members of the Ne’imah Board include Sherry Kearns and Pearl Weisinger, co-presidents; Wendy Pyle, treasurer; Josh Cooper Ginsburg, vice president of technology; Margie Rosenberg and Johanna Steper, music librarians; and the members at large: Rabbi Susan Gulak, Josie Kivort, Richard Magidson and Mari Vosburgh.
