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 Cantors
Assembly
The 60th
Anniversary of the Cantors Assembly, was celebrated in grand
fashion with its
annual convention, On The Wings of Song. Aptly titled, this year's
festivities soared unlike
any in recent memory. The convention committee paid careful
attention to being inclusive
of the membership in total, and highlighted the varied talents of
other members who appeared
for their inaugural participatory roles.
An underlying stream of education was woven into the tapestry of
the week, as depict by
the subtitle of the conference, Today's Hazzan: A Coat of Many
Colors. Within the
programming one was introduced to threads of Prayer, Spirituality,
Education, Musical Artist,
Jewish Scholar and Healthy Professional. Master teachers and
performers entertained the
spirit and challenged the mind of all assembled.
While each day contained hours of memorable moments here are but a
few:
Sunday - A participatory concert by Doug Cotler and Julie Silver. A
musical bluegrass Ma'ariv
service and an evening concert by piano virtuoso Jon Simon.
Monday - The day started with either a traditional minyan or a
spiritual Yoga session. Creative
service and congregational programming was discussed throughout the
morning and our
Samuel Rosenbaum lecture and awards were presented. The evening
gala concert was
highlighted by the glorious outpouring of community support for
incoming president, Joe Gole
and the Lifetime Achievement award presented to Nate Lam.
Tuesday - Rabbi Irwin Kula captivated the conventioneers with his
perspective on Jewish life
and prioritizing the foci of life to bring deeper meaning. Business
was dutifully conducted
during the annual meeting and an afternoon concert of Holocaust
music was a treasure given
to us by Dr. Nick Strimple and his USC Thornton School of Music
choir. We were moved
deeply by presentations by CA members, most notably Hazzan David
Kane. The evening
wound down with a powerhouse Abraham B. Shapiro Memorial concert
produced by Jackie
Mendelson and featuring many of our esteemed colleagues. The guest
of the night was a
Scottish colleague and bagpiper who toasted us with a sweet
L'chayim.
Wednesday - For those not yet sleep deprived the day began with a
beautiful davening once
again, a powerful morning of programs and an afternoon at the
Skirball Center. This unique
facility was the perfect site for us to celebrate the diversity of
backgrounds of our colleagues
as we were delighted by their personal stories as solicited by
Nathan Lam. The beautiful
Mincha service and Concert Ma'ariv Installation rounded out a day
one could describe as
perfect. At night the Assembly was treated to local talents
presenting the music of Harold Arlen
in Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Thursday - bags, bags, bags. Bags packed, Bags under the eyes, and
bag lunches in tow, all
departed with fond and lasting memories of Convention 2007.
To purchase CDs and DVDs of Cantors Assembly conventions, contact
www.dovetapes.com
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