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The Upper Galilee Choir was established in 1978 by Stanley Sperber and under his direction, a year later, performed Mendelssohn's Oratorio "Elijah" at the Musica Sacra Festival in Jerusalem.
Stanley Sperber served as the choir's musical director for two and a half years. In the years that followed, the choir sang under the direction of various conductors including; Aaron Harlap, Veronica Bloomers-Bell and Amir Bernhardt. Ron Zarchi has served as the choir's conductor since 1985.
Maestro Ron Zarchi
The choir has performed with the Israeli Broadcasting Authority Symphony, Haifa Symphony, Carmel Baroque Orchestra, Yad Harif Orchestra, Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, and various other instrumental ensembles from both Israel and abroad.
The choir has toured abroad participating in a variety of festivals and competitions including the Nancy Choral Festival, France (1991), The Liturgical Music Festival in Loretto, Italy (1995), and the Palestrina Choir Competition, Italy (2000) where the choir won a bronze medal. In May - June of 2004, the choir participated in the Musica Sacra International in Marktoberdorf Germany (28/5-2/6/04), and in July of 2008 the choir traveled to Spain to participate in the Cantonigros International Music Festival.
The choir often performs in the Church of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the Dormition Church in Jerusalem and regularly takes part in prominent liturgical music festivals in Nazareth and Abu-Gosh as well as the annual internationally known Chamber Music Festival in Kfar Blum.
During the 25th Chamber Music Festival in Kfar Blum during August of 2009, the choir performed the Israeli premier of "An Evening Service for Shabbat" written by the Israeli composer Yehezkal Braun. The composer was present for the performance and although written some 40 years earlier, this was the first time that the he had heard the piece in its' entirety.
Our Members
The 45+ Members of the choir hail from all over the Upper Galilee panhandle, and the Golan Heights. Several of the members have studied music at the Levinsky Teachers College, or similar educational institutions. Many participate in music enrichment seminars and the majority study voice.
The Upper Galilee Choir performs under the auspices of the Upper Galilee Regional Council's Cultural Committee.
If you are interested in more information about the choir, or upcoming performances, please contact:
Mr. Amotz Or - orATdafna.org.il
Mr. Ron Zarchi - ron.zarchiATgmail.com
Click here to go to the webpage of the cultural committee on the regional council's website |
Repertoire
The choir's program includes modern and classical works, music by Israeli composers, and folk songs, but focuses on the performance of Baroqe and Renaissance music, with a special emphasis on a liturgical repertoire.
In addition to a cappella programs, the choir has staged independent productions including:
Handel's "Messiah", performed during the Christmas season for several years at the Notre Dame Church in Abu Ghosh near Jerusalem.
"Prayers from the Vienna Synagogue" by Zultser, performed in concerts of Jewish liturgical music in both Jerusalem and Kfar Blum.
"Vesperes" by Monteverdi with the Mesanza Ensemble of Germany.
The operas "Dido and Aeneas" by Purcell, and Gluck's "Orfeo und Euridice".
Haydn's "Die Schopfung", (The Creation).
In the Autumn of 2008, the choir performed Bach's "B minor Mass" with the Be'er Sheva Symphonette in Be'er Sheva, and at the Abu Ghosh music festival, with two additional performances in Be'er Sheva during February and March of '09.
In May of '09 the choir presented a concert of both the Mozart Coronation Mass, and Schubert's Mass No.5 in A Flat Major, during the spring music festival in Abu Ghosh with a second concert in June at the Tel Aviv museum.
July 2009, and the choir is hard at work preparing a concert for the 25th annual Upper Galilee Chamber Music Festival.
Video clips of the choir's performance at the Musica Sacra International can be seen and heard here.
The following are an assortment of tracks including 2 from the choir's DVD recorded at the Church of The Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes in Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee - with Symphonetta Ran'ana
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