[HANASHIR:14753] Shalom from an Agent for Jewish Performers

[LINDA YELNICK <leahhaifa...>]

Dear Hanashir Chaverim,

I recently joined Hanashir a few months ago, and I am so delighted!  I have
thoroughly enjoyed being connected to you, to learn so much and to hear all
about the wonderful experience at Hava Nashira.

I am Linda Yelnick (many of you already know me), an agent for Jewish
performers in the United States, also representing one in Israel (Reva
L'sheva) and one in the UK (Judith Silver who was just invited to represent
Limmud at CAJE).  I am also a former religious school educator and
administrator.  In addition to introducing myself, I would like you to meet
the artists on the GIGZ Roster.  Please click on the GIGZ Website below and
enjoy!  If you would like to extend an invitation to any of these artists,
please let me know so we can talk about bringing "gigz' to your community. 
Thank you!

I decided to join Hanashir after a couple of you had suggested that I sign on
because I had missed some exciting "Grammys discussions."  I had submitted to
NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) a proposal, on behalf of
Jewish performers, to establish a Jewish music category for the Grammy Awards.
 Twice it did not pass, so for a year or two now, I have just decided to
observe and see what the future holds for Jewish music.

In addition to being an agent, I now serve on the Board of Governors of the
San Francisco Chapter of The Academy.  I am hoping that I will now be able to
draw greater attention to and the recognition of Jewish music.  One of the
criticisms that NARAS had in making its decision not to establish a Jewish
Music Category was that there was not enough nationwide presence of Jewish
music/musicians.  I have always encouraged Jewish performers to join The
Academy.  This entitles them to network with other performers, vote for
nominees, and if they have a CD that was released under the Grammys qualifying
submission process, to submit their current CD.  As of now, you may choose to
enter your music into a number of offered categories.  If you do so, it is
then important to spread the word, to get your CD into the "public eye & ear".
 The deadline for joining NARAS in order to submit your CD for 2004 is July 1,
2003.  For more info on joining, please visit http://www.grammy.com, call the
national office in Los Angeles CA  310 392-3777, or feel free to contact me. 
If you do join, no matter where you live, please be sure to enter my name,
Linda Yelnick, as referring Recording Academy member.  The San Francisco
Chapter includes all of Northern California, Utah, Colorado and Northern
Nevada.  Thank you?.and if The Grammys is "your thing", please share this
information with other musicians/singers.  Our very own Judy Caplan Ginsburg
submitted her new Children's Music CD last year!    

Speaking of Judy, please join her and several other "music people" (including
me) at CAJE for our panel discussions?.MUSIC!!  I will also have a booth at
CAJE once again (sharing it with Sam Glaser), so please stop by and say hi and
see what's new.  Also new is a website that I encourage you to check out when
you have a chance - http://www.meltonarts.org -celebrating Jews in all of the
Arts!

I thank you for listening, and I thank you, more importantly, for keeping our
Jewish traditions, values and celebrations alive through music!  Mazel Tov to
you all!  We need to keep singing?..we need to keep dancing?..we need to
keep laughing?..we need to keep celebrating! Take care.

B'Shalom,

Linda

Linda Yelnick 
GIGZ 
520 South El Camino Real, Suite 320
San Mateo  CA  94402

Phone/Fax 650 692.1763
leahhaifa (at) usa(dot)net  
http://gigz.yelnickusa.com 



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