[HANASHIR:12552] Adding Pro Singers To Choir

[jbielan <jbielan...>]

Rachelle,

I having been adding pro singers to my choir for High Holidays for many years.  
Adding a strong pro to each section has, at least in my experience, been 
extremely effective.  

My Cantor and I try to keep a running dialog going with our choir members.  I 
am fortunate to have a Cantor who is very knowledgeable, and at rehearals he 
generously teaches the choir about the meaning of every prayer they are 
singing, in order that they have the most significant personal spiritual 
experience.  We try to stress the value of thinking like a musical team who has 
been blessed with the opportunity to sing on the bimah.

As a result, our folks seem to really enjoy it when I bring in some pros for 
High Holidays or special services.
I think it's very important to choose the right pros, however.  I agree with 
someone who mentioned that you need people who excel at group singing, 
alongside their personal solo abilities.  You want to try and find people who 
are sincerely spiritual people, as well.  You also don't want pros who are too 
full of themselves. 
I don't know what the recording scene is like where you are, but you might want 
to see if there are some
successful vocal contractors whom you could call for names.  If you find some, 
be straightforward and ask about singers' attitudes and egos. Whenever I get 
names of players or singers for gigs, I always ask, "is he a nice guy?  Team 
player?  In-studio/onstage attitude?"  If I get negatives, I don't call. We've 
been fortunate through the years to find remarkable people who really enjoy the 
experience of singing with us.

Rather than feeling threatened or less-than, I've perceived that our choir 
members usually enjoy the experience.  Once in a while you're gonna get someone 
who feels a little threatened, but for the most part that seems to dissipate 
quickly. Their pride in being part of a choir soaring to even greater musical 
heights usually takes over. They begin to listen hard, and try to learn.

After High Holidays are done, although my ear naturally misses the addition of 
the pros, I always feel like my guys and gals have gotten a little stronger 
musically for the experience.  I also think most of them recognize that there 
would probably not have been another forum within which they would have the 
opportunity to become friends with, and sing alongside pros who've got the kind 
of musical credentials these folks do. It's a cool thing to go to the L.A. 
Civic Light Opera and see someone on that stage whom you know! 

Bottom line: I wanna keep it musically interesting for the congregation, 
whenever it's appropriate.  It's an exciting time for Jewish music in L.A.  
Craig is doing his big Hallelu show at the Universal Ampitheatre this weekend, 
which promises to be wonderful.  We're doing a concert with my cantor, Ron 
Li-Paz and his dad - who is also a cantor, and his wife - who starred on the 
West End in England and has an extraordinary voice - next Sunday at Perfoming 
Arts Center of Cal State Nortridge.  There's all kinds of creative services 
going on all over Los Angeles, as well.  Next month, we're doing a Shabbat 
Service with Klesmer music, to which I'm really looking forward.

Jeez, I remember fifteen years ago when I got all kinds of heat just for using 
a synth on the bimah.  

There's no doubt of the power of music to inspire, and to help draw people back 
to their Jewish roots.  I think all of us who get to do our art on the bimah 
are incredibly blessed.  My personal opinion: if it feels right for you: go for 
it..at least try it!  See if you can find some pros and see how the choir 
reacts.  If it doesn't work... well, you tried.  And if it does, so much the 
better.

Jack Bielan