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Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @York

"Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @ York” is a performance and lecture series dedicated to showcasing the multicultural diversity of Jewish musical expression as well as the ongoing intersections between Jewish and non-Jewish musical practices and communities. The initiative is driven by an inclusive philosophy that believes in the power of music to serve as a bridge-builder and a vehicle for cultural exchange and dialogue.  All events are FREE to attend and open to the general public.

Jewish Music @ York” is presented by the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies and by the Department of Music in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York University.

The series has been made possible via the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation.

Series Coordinator and Artistic Director: Professor Noam Lemish

Third Season (2024 - 2025)

  • November 17, 2024 | 3:00PM

San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Composers: The Music of Ernest Bloch, Darius Milhaud and Brian S. Wilson

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building , York University

A chamber music recital of pieces by west coast Jewish composers performed by York University’s celebrated Department of Music professors.

  • January 19, 2025 | 3:00PM

The Uri Gurvich Quartet (NYC/Israel) Performs the Sasha Argov Project

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building, York University

New York based Israeli jazz saxophonist and composer Uri Gurvich brings his compelling project featuring exquisite jazz arrangements of one of Israel’s most beloved songwriters, Sasha Argov.

  • March 9, 2025 | 3:00PM

Queen Kong

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University

Queen Kong is a group inspired by the Radical Jewish Culture movement in New York founded by pioneer John Zorn.  Led by Toronto drummer, vocalist and composer, Lorie Wolf, Queen Kong seamlessly blends Ashkenazi Jewish idiom with jazz, free improv, rock and punk to explore new sounds and ideas. 

All concerts are FREE ADMISSION to all. To join our mailing list to receive concert reminders and updates email: cjs@yorku.ca

“Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @ York”, now in its third season, is a performance and lecture series dedicated to showcasing the multicultural diversity of Jewish musical expression as well as the ongoing intersections between Jewish and non-Jewish musical practices and communities. The initiative is driven by an inclusive philosophy that believes in the power of music to serve as a bridge-builder and a vehicle for cultural exchange and dialogue.

Second Season (2023 - 2024)

  • The Ancient Law (Das Alte Gesetz) with Live Original Music by pianist Donald Sosin and klezmer-violinist Alicia Sivgalis

Sunday, November 19, 2023 | 3:00pm

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building

  • Lenka Lichtenberg: Thieves of Dreams (2023 JUNO Award Winner)

Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 7:30PM

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building

  • Ariel Kasler Quintet (Israel/US): “Make It Bloom”

Sunday, January 28, 2024 | 3:00pm

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building

  • Rebecca Cypess (Rutgers University), "Far from Home, an Exile Roving": Harriett Abrams, Jewish Composer in Georgian England

Monday, February 26, 2024 | 7:30pm

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building

Inaugural Season (2022-2023)

  • Immigrant Waves and Musical Tastes: Jewish Musical Cultures in Canadian Context

A Roundtable Discussion with: Miranda Crowdus (Concordia University), Christopher Silver (McGill University), Eric Stein (Ashkenaz Festival) and moderated by David Koffman (York University)

April 16, 2023 | 3:00pm

McLean Performance Studio, Accolade East Building

  • Celebrating the Music of Canadian Jewish Composers

A Chamber Music Recital featuring York Music faculty: Mark Chambers, Katherine Dowling, Amy Hillis, Patricia Wait plus Special Guests!  Pre-concert talk by Diane Kolin

March 23, 2023 | 6:45pm pre-concert talk, 7:30pm concert

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building

  • Dr. Judith Cohen, “And For the Groom a Sardine: Sephardic songs from Morocco and Ottoman Lands”

March 12, 2023 | 3:00pm

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building

  • Amos Hoffman & Noam Lemish Quartet

February 16, 2023 | 7:30pm

Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building

  • Brian Katz & Ernie Tollar, Dreaming Wordless Melodies: The Jewish-themed music of Brian Katz

November 24, 2022 | 7:30pm

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building

  • Season Premiere: Jaffa Road

November 6, 2022 | 7:30pm

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building