Kolot Halev – A Jewish Community Choir

Kolot HaLev performs Jewish musical treasures from Jewish communities across the world. Generally speaking, the Jewish musical scene today covers a limited repertoire. In addition, very few quality musical arrangements are available for compositions originating in regions of the world other than North America. Kolot HaLev is actively filling the gap.

The choir performs music ranging from liturgical works to folk songs and gospel music sung in Hebrew, English, Yiddish, Ladino, Italian, Russian and Spanish (to date!). In the past few years alone Kolot HaLev concerts have focused on Russian, Israeli and Italian music both liturgical and secular. The 2017 Annual concert was devoted to Kol Isha—Jewish Women across the Times, when Schubert’s Miriam’s song of Triumph was premiered in the Washington DC area, including a brand new libretto.

(During COVID) Choir members currently rehearse every Thursday for one hour when they learn the repertoire along with vocal technique. COVID precautions are in place at rehearsals. A recording of each rehearsal is posted in a Dropbox site for the benefit of members who couldn’t attend. In addition, singers participate in a half-hour sectional rehearsal on alternate weeks, when we tackle specific problems the group needs to overcome including questions not covered at the main rehearsal. Choir members are also offered mp3 files with their parts to reinforce the learning of the musical material.