For 30 years Hazamir Choir has served as a training ground for a new generation of Jewish singers, composers and leaders. (photo courtesy of HaZamir Choir)

Jewish teenagers in grades 9-12 who want to take their singing to the next level are encouraged to join the Los Angeles chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, for a rewarding experience of music, culture, leadership and friendship. HaZamir has members in 27 U.S. chapters plus 10 cities in Israel.

They will join hundreds of HaZamir singers gathering in New York in April for a 3-day festival culminating for a gala performance at Carnegie Hall.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for these teens, as they express their Jewish identities through their love of music while building strong connections to peers from a range of cultural and economic backgrounds and levels of religious observance,” said Vivian Lazar, the director of HaZamir. “HaZamir teens perform on the world’s biggest stages, boosting self-esteem and allowing them to achieve great success.”

HaZamir was created in 1993 by Maestro Matthew Lazar of Zamir Choral Foundation as a platform for talented Jewish teens to sing great Jewish music at the highest standard of excellence. For 30 years, HaZamir has served as a training ground for a new generation of singers, conductors, composers and leaders, investing in young people so that they have a deeper understanding of the values, traditions and glory of Judaism and artistic expression.

Summing up their HaZamir experience, one alumnus said, “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 information, visit hazamir.org or email hazamir@zamirchoralfoundation.org.