HaZamir welcomes new members to Providence choir

HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir provides meaningful musical experiences for young people in 35 chapters across the U.S. and Israel. Rehearsals for the 2024-2025 season will begin in September (with an open house on Sept. 8), culminating in a gala performance at Carnegie Hall in the spring featuring hundreds of HaZamir singers. Teens entering grades 9-12 are encouraged to join the local HaZamir Providence chapter, conducted by Cantor Brian Mayer, for a rewarding experience of music, culture, leadership and friendship.

HaZamir was created in 1993 by Maestro Matthew Lazar, founder and director of the Zamir Choral Foundation, to provide an opportunity for accomplished young singers to perform great Jewish music at the highest standard of excellence and sing on the world’s biggest stages.

“HaZamir gives young people an outlet to celebrate their Jewish heritage, connect with one another and feel a sense of belonging and pride through the creative outlet of music,” says Matthew Lazar. “Now, more than ever, this supportive community is crucial to teens.”

HaZamir has long served as a training ground for the next generation of singers, conductors, composers and leaders. Many HaZamir graduates have gone on to musical careers and have assumed leadership roles in their communities, while seventeen HaZamir alumni are now conductors or coordinators of their own HaZamir chapters.

HaZamir members rehearse weekly in their local chapters with expert conductors, as well as at regional gatherings throughout the year. A three-day Festival leading up to the annual performance brings Israeli and American teens together to rehearse and to discuss important topics related to Judaism, providing an opportunity for them to learn about each other’s traditions and cultures.

“This is a life-changing experience for these teens, as they express their Jewish identities through their love of music while building leadership skills and strong connections to peers from a range of backgrounds,” says Vivian Lazar, Director of HaZamir. “The camaraderie and healing power of choral singing also boosts mood and self-esteem, allowing them to achieve great success.”

The HaZamir choir is comprised of teenagers in grades 9-12 in 26 American chapter locations. In addition to Providence, chapters are in Baltimore, Bergen County NJ, Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Central New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, L.A. Valley, Los Angeles, Long Island NY, Manhattan, MetroWest NJ, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley CA, South New Jersey, Tampa, Washington, DC and Westchester County NY and in nine cities in Israel. In the spring of 2024, Israeli teens from HaZamir visited Providence before the New York City performance.

HaZamir alumnus JP sums up the unique benefits of the HaZamir experience: “HaZamir taught me invaluable lessons about unity, the power of the collective, Judaism, leadership, and friendship. As I look back on this experience, the many memories, while all exciting and different, share a common denominator: HaZamir brings out the best in everyone."

For more information about HaZamir Providence, contact bjmayer@teprov.org.For additional information about HaZamir, email hazamir@zamirchoralfoundation.org or visit www.hazamir.org