For many years, David Mevorach Seidenberg has composed liturgical melodies in media res while leading Jewish communal prayers, but it took the COVID-shutdown to get him to sit down and write out those melodies for posterity (i.e., for the next time he would lead prayers). He was delightedly surprised when this practice blossomed into writing instrumental music in a classical (and sometimes romantic) idiom. Since then, David has focused his time on composition, and more recently begun studying with well-known local composer Roman Yakub. Every instrumental piece in the program is having its world premiere tonight, performed by talented musicians of the UMass Amherst music department, Zhen Tu, Mikayla Farmer, Jessica Stolecki, Georges Mefleh, and Jeremy Egerton. The concert will also include a few of David’s liturgical songs, which are becoming known and used in the Jewish community, to be performed by Cantor Elise Barber, Itai Gal, and Rabbi David Seidenberg himself.

Proceeds from the concert to benefit Beit Ahavah Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton, which celebrates 25 years of sharing sacred space with Florence Congregational Church at Bombyx. This concert is presented in collaboration with Beit Ahavah, Torah Warriors/Prayground, Jewish Community of Amherst, Congregation B’nai Israel, Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, and neohasid.org. The painting is by Quentin S. Allen from Zambia.

Reception to follow in the Peacock Room.

When you purchase your ticket you will also receive a Zoom registration link should you decide to join online rather than in-person. The Zoom Meeting will take place at the same time as the in-person concert, on Oct 19, 2023 at 7:00PM EST.