The Jewish Youth Orchestra
The Jewish Youth Orchestra
A project of the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys
JEWISH YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Music Director, Janice Mautner Markham
Assistant Music Director, Raina Markham
A project of the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Executive Director, Jason Moss
Cultural Arts Coordinator, Cantor Judy Sofer
jsofer@jewishsgpv.org
The Jewish Youth Orchestra is a community-based ensemble of middle school and high school musicians dedicated to the study and performance of Jewish music, liturgical and secular, as well as music influenced and connected to Jewish culture.
The mission of the JYO is to offer a unique experience for young musicians, building a Jewish cultural education, which draws from numerous music styles from different time periods and regions throughout the world. The JYO encourages communication and collaboration as students grow as musicians and individuals. Our goal is to create music that excites the imagination through the study and performance of traditional and contemporary music by inspiring the next generation of artists and audiences.
The music played has been incredibly varied, from multiple versions of V’shamru to Odessa Bulgar and other klezmer classics, to Gershwin and Nina Simone. As each season is wrapping up a larger scale concert is performed, one in December and an end-of-school-year concert in early June with additional opportunities in between. The JYO has performed at many synagogues and other venues throughout Southern California. JYO was proud to play at the 1st annual Jewish Food Festival in Monrovia, CA, sponsored by the Jewish Federation. They have also performed multiple times at the Pico Union Project with Director Craig Taubman, at the Nixon Library, Skirball Cultural Center and were invited to perform at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust as part of the Violins of Hope series. January 2019 through 2023 the ensemble had the honor of performing at the steps of the Pasadena City Hall for “Every Person Has a Name”, a 25 hour Holocaust Remembrance Program (with 2021 as a virtual presentation.)
During covid shut down, JYO was included in virtual presentations for Cafe Europa Holocaust survivor groups, Temple Israel of Hollywood performance series, and for the Holocaust Museum, Los Angeles. During the 2020-2021 season the JYO has completed two music videos, “In My Life” in honor of John Lennon’s birthday commemoration, and “Eli, Eli” for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and in 2022 they released the video for "Adonai S'fatai" by Cantor Antalie Young.
There have been more performance opportunities in 2023, including a return to the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, and at the Peterson Automotive Museum. In the fall of 2023 there is a plan underway to begin a “Jr. JYO” that will welcome students who are in the first 1-3 years of study and are able to read music. The goal is to welcome in a new group of young musicians who will then graduate into the more advanced ensemble. This ensemble will be led by founding JYO member/concert master, Raina Markham.
Synagogue performances:
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
Temple Beth Israel of Pomona
Temple Beth Israel of Eagle Rock and Highland Park
Temple Beth David, Temple City
Teaching Artists have included:
Leeav Sofer, piano/body percussion (and JYO co-founder)
Eric Hagstrom, drums
Circe Diaz Gamero, cello
Eden Farr, violin
Ronni Silberstein, flute
Gee Rabe, accordion