Press Release

[Dan Kazez <KAZEZ...>]

In case you are interested...

Some concert info, prepared by my University's news service bureau.

Dan Kazez


                         Press Release

        OHIO CELLIST PERFORMS JEWISH MUSIC ON SIX CONTINENTS

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- Daniel Kazez, one of the world's busiest and brightest 
stars in the arena of Jewish classical music, will make his first concert 
appearance in Africa in April of this year.

First, he will perform at the principal synagogues of Casablanca and Fez, in 
Morocco.  Later in the month, he will appear in the cities of Meknes and 
Marrakesh.

To date, Kazez has performed nearly a thousand concerts on three continents-in 
major concert halls, in small and large synagogues in the U.S. and Canada, and 
in the world's centers of Jewish culture, including Cercle Ben Gurion in 
Brussels, the Great Synagogue of Florence, the Sternberg Centre in London 
(Europe's largest J.C.C.), the Rothschild Synagogue in Paris (one of the 
world's largest synagogues), and the Jewish Cultural Center of Italy in Rome.

Later in 1998, he will perform in South America and Australia.

Kazez's interest in Jewish music is at once personal and professional.  His 
father is a Sephardic Jew who emigrated to the U.S. after World War II in 
search of further education.  His mother, an accomplished artist, is of 
Ashkenazic descent.  Most of Daniel's relatives now live in Istanbul, Paris, 
and Buenos Aires.

Kazez reports that he "discovered" Jewish-inspired Classical music after his 
concert career was already well under way:

"Years ago, Pamela Hope-Levin visited my university to participate in a 
Holocaust conference.  She was set to give a dramatic presentation with violin 
accompaniment, only to find that her violinist was ill and had not arrived on 
campus.  With twenty-four hours' notice, I was called to fill in, on cello.  
The next day's performance--which, by the way, was quite a success--spurred me 
to consider performing art music inspired by my own Jewish tradition."

Rave reviews have poured in from critics:  According to the Harrogate Voice 
(England), "A most unusual and intriguing musical event by a leading authority 
on Jewish music.  Passionate music dazzlingly played..."  The British Jewish 
Telegraph (Leeds):  "Kazez's playing was utterly in sympathy with the music...  
To listen was nothing less than a privilege."

Kazez chooses the music for his programs with the greatest of care.  "My music 
has a clear Jewish connection.  The melodies, harmonies, and rhythms all have 
an audible link to Judaism."

His programs feature a wide variety of Jewish music, including music by Ernest 
Bloch, traditional Jewish folk songs, and new compositions by Moshe Denburg 
and Alex Lubet.

Daniel Kazez began playing cello at the age of five, under the tutelage of 
Leonard Feldman, cellist of the Alard String Quartet.  He holds music degrees 
from Oberlin and Peabody Conservatories.  His doctorate is from the University 
of Michigan.

An internationally recognized scholar as well, Kazez is the author of two 
books, twenty-five scholarly articles, and numerous editions and arrangements 
of music.

Kazez recently traveled to India, where he gave a series of 14 lectures and 
performances.  An enduring student of world music, Kazez has also traveled to 
Java and Bali (to study gamelan music, dance, and shadow puppet theater) and 
to Turkey and Greece (to study urban folk music).

Kazez's work is supported by the Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity and 
by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lilly Foundation, the 
Wray Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council.  He was the recipient of the 1996 
Matthies Award and a 1996-97 University of Chicago/Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 
Fellowship.

Kazez is currently Associate Professor at Wittenberg University, in 
Springfield, Ohio.

                               -30-

CONTACT
Alan Aldinger
Director of News Services
office:  937-327-6115
home:  937-390-8848

   or 

Daniel Kazez
tel:  937-327-7354
fax:  937-327-6340
e-mail:  kazez (at) wittenberg(dot)edu