Exploration at UCLA delves into the importance of Jewish music in America and its impact
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies are set to convene a two-day conference titled "American Culture and the Jewish Experience in Music." The event, presented by the two UCLA institutions, will take place on campus on Nov. 6 and 7.
The conference will delve into the profound impact of Jewish customs, values, and beliefs on American music and the growth of music for Jews in America. It will also highlight how American culture provided opportunities for Jewish artists to thrive across various musical genres.
The conference will open with an evening concert on Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Stephen S. Wise Temple in Bel Air. This special event will feature the world premiere of "David's Quilt," an original, contemporary libretto. The concert, which is presented in collaboration with the Max Helfman Institute for New Jewish Music, will be performed by UCLA students and alumni, including the Chamber Singers. Funding for the concert comes from the Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music, David and Irmgard Dobrow Fund, and the Max Helfman Institute for New Jewish Music.
The premiere of "David's Quilt" is free, but attendees must make a reservation at Bit.ly/DavidsQuilt. Conference reservations can be made at [email protected] or (310) 267-5327.
Mark Kligman, the Mickey Katz Endowed Chair in Jewish Music, is convening the conference. The conference will also build on the work of the Milken Archive of Jewish Music, which was inaugurated at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, funded by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation.
Highlights of the symposium include a symposium devoted to the legendary composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, panels on the legacy of "Fiddler on the Roof," scenes from musicals based on Jewish topics enacted by UCLA musical theater students, and a presentation and film screening titled "100 years of The Jazz Singer."
The conference will conclude with a chamber music concert re-creating the 1945 Wilshire Ebell Theatre concert, featuring the work of Jewish immigrant composers like Korngold, Toch, Schoenberg, and Gruenberg.
For more precise details about the conference, we recommend checking UCLA's official events calendar or contacting the relevant department directly. The conference promises to be an enlightening exploration of the rich intersection between American culture and the Jewish experience in music.
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