This extraordinary multicultural event features three choirs: the Zamir Chorale of Boston, America’s foremost Jewish choral ensemble; VOICES 21C, a diverse choir dedicated to positive interactions, social justice, and global understanding; and the Boston Community Gospel Choir, which often performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Each group will separately perform songs from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian cultures, respectively, and then join together to perform music that transcends the collective cultures. The idea of shared values, especially in these turbulent times, rises above our many cultures and connects us. By using music to explore the themes of freedom, we seek to create a culture of understanding, faith, and hope.
In partnership with the Museum of African American History, Consulate General of Israel to New England, and AJC Boston.
About the choirs:
Founded in 1969, the Zamir Chorale of Boston is a musical and educational organization with a mission to raise awareness of the breadth and beauty of Jewish culture through performances, recordings, symposia, publications, and musical commissions. Led by Founder and Artistic Director Dr. Joshua Jacobson, Zamir performs music spanning hundreds of years, four continents, and nearly every musical style. Zamir’s repertoire includes Jewish liturgical pieces, major classical works, music of the Holocaust, new compositions, as well as Israeli, Yiddish, and Ladino folksongs. Concerts are designed to entertain, educate and inspire, which is why Zamir’s music is enjoyed by people of all ages, religions and races.
In a time when American ideals are epitomized by nationalism and aggression, VOICES 21C aligns itself with the great American voices of compassion, love, and non-violence. The musicians of VOICES 21C engage in an interdisciplinary artistic expression, including spoken word, creative movement and body imagery, traditional Western classical music, non-traditional world song, and improvisation.
The Boston Community Choir (a.k.a. The Boston Pops Gospel Choir), is an all-volunteer, multicultural, intergenerational, multi-denominational group comprised of singers from the Greater Boston area. The Boston Pops Gospel Choir was originally brought together to perform in the first "Gospel Night at POPS" in 1993. "Gospel Night" is a result of the vision and commitment of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Cultural Diversity Committee, championed by the late Vondal M. Taylor, Jr., who was Vice-Chair of the Cultural Diversity Committee, and an overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Gospel Night has since become an annual event that continues to feature the choir. It had its twentieth annual performance in June 2012. After the death of Vondal Taylor in 1995, Brother Dennis Slaughter decided to develop Boston Community Choir during the off season. Through his efforts and musical direction, the Boston Community Choir has become well-known throughout New England for its inspired and uplifting performances. Boston Community Choir continues to be a positive contribution to the rich and exciting history of gospel music.