We will donate over £4000 to Ukraine following a memorable evening of music
Ukrainian folk songs, Yiddish lullabies and songs of resistance all formed part of the programme for our fundraising concert held on Saturday 9 July.
Co-organised by our Musical Director, Rebekka Wedell and our Deputy Chair, Rebecca Singerman-Knight, it was a wonderful evening showcasing the musical talents of many KLS members. We were also joined by guest musicians from other local synagogues.
The KLS Choir opened the show with the ‘Song of the Partisans’ – a Yiddish song of resistance inspired by the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto. They were joined in their performances from instrumentalists on the clarinet, oboe, trumpet and accordion – getting the concert off to a rousing start!
As well as a number of beautiful liturgical pieces – Ledor Vador and Oseh Shalom which segued beatufilly into the Chasidic song for peace Volt Ikh Gehot Koyekh – the Choir also performed two renditions of the Ukrainian Folk Song, Oy U Luzi Chervoona Kalyna. This has become an anthem in recent months as it is a song of resistance, originally written in the early twentieth century, but gaining a new relevance and popularity over the past few months. This was performed at the end of the first part of the concert and again as a finale at the end of the concert – with the audience joining in.
The choir was led and accompanied on the piano by Music Director Rebekka Wedell, who also performed a piano solo and accompanied herself singing a beautiful Yiddish song, A Zuniker Shtral – amazingly whilst recovering from a fractured arm!
The concert also featured a number of solo and ensemble pieces from KLS and guest musicians:
The concert took place on a beautiful Summer evening, so during the interval the audience – and performers – were able to enjoy their drinks in our Kehillah Garden.
A particular highlight of the evening was the opening of the second part of the concert: an original composition by Rebekka Wedell – Nachamu, Nachamu Ami (Comfort Ye, Be Comforted my People) – performed by a vocal ensemble and accompanied by Roland Appel on violin and Rebecca Singerman-Knight on piano. A stunning piece, it uses the text of Isaiah 40 and urges the listener to “Raise Your Voice with Strength”:
During the interval raffle tickets were sold, with over £400 raised by everyone wanting to win the first prize – a beautiful Mosaic made by KLS member Sandra Webber with a musical and Ukrainian theme:
In total, the concert raised over £2000 – and the KLS Council had already agreed to match this – so a total of over £4000 will be donated to Ukraine as a result of this evening.
You can watch the concert in full, in two parts, below: