[HANASHIR:9698] High Holiday Choir complaint

[Susan Schanerman <susan...>]

We have a persistant congregant (who happens to have a lot of influence) who 
believes that our high holiday choir is "churchy".  What has happened over the 
last three years is that our former director (elementary school music teacher 
and friend of this guy) quit and our new director (non-Jewish PHD candidate in 
vocal music) has transformed our choir from a primarily 2-part group to a 
proficient 4-part group.  The pieces that this man seems to be objecting to are 
pieces (that I select) by Steinberg, Isaacson, Richards, Osborne.  (Almost 
everything we sing is in Hebrew).

We are a Reform congregation.  How do I address this man's concerns?  My guess 
is that they have more to do with the change in personnel than with the change 
in music - but I don't want to go down that road.  I want him to feel that we 
are listening to his opinions and considering them seriously (which we are.)

The choir has lots of positive feedback from other congregants every year. 
 Maybe it's those who were raised in conservative synagogues who don't like 
choirs?

Todah,
Susan

Susan Schanerman
Director of Education, Cantorial Soloist
susan (at) emanueloftempe(dot)org



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