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Klezmer Company Orchestra, Conducted by Aaron Kula to Present “Salsa, Strings and Swing” at FAU

            BOCA RATON, FL (February 3, 2006) Florida’s innovative, critically acclaimed Klezmer Company Orchestra presents a premier, multi-media production “Salsa, Strings and Swing,”with 60 performers and guest vocalist Shira Lissek.  The program will combine the unique blended sounds of orchestral, Latin and Klezmer music, capturing the cultural energy of each genre.  The single performance will be on Sunday, March 5, at 3 p.m., at FAU’s Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, in the University Center, on the Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road.  Early reservations are recommended.

The musical extravaganza features the Klezmer Company Orchestra, Florida Atlantic University Libraries’ professional ensemble-in-residence, under the direction of Aaron Kula, director of music collections at FAU Libraries, the 30-voice Judaica Choral Society and a classical string orchestra made up of principal players from major local ensembles.  The event is the ninth annual concert to benefit FAU Libraries’ Judaica Collection.

This collaborative event will include music from Latin America, North America and Europe, converging to create a fusion of blended traditions.  The program will highlight recently discovered historical orchestrations from the early 20^th century, “Yiddish Overture for Orchestra” and “Chassidic Suite.” In addition, new orchestrations composed by Kula will be featured including “Freylach a la Mambo,” “Afro Cuban Bulgar,” “Wrong Note Freylach,” and “A Yiddish Tango.”  The program will also include compositions by great Jewish composers such as Ellstein, Rumshinsky, Kammen, Olshanetsky, Chajes, Fields and others.

“The real star of the show is the music itself. The Libraries’ rich collection is the link from the past and to the present, providing a unique opportunity to create a concert that relates to people from different generations, ethnic backgrounds, religions and musical tastes,” said Kula.  “As an artist, it is my responsibility to perform, to teach, to promote, and to inspire people through music — which by nature is not a stagnant art form; it embraces both tradition and evolution.”

Special features of this extravaganza include the guest performance of New York City native and glamorous opera singer, Shira Lissek, a versatile young American soprano who is equally at home on the operatic, musical theatre and concert stages.  She will sing selections in English, Hebrew, Spanish and Yiddish.

Another first is the introduction of two short animated films created especially for “Salsa, Strings and Swing.”  They include an animation to music from “Samson and Delilah,” composed by Saint-Saëns, accompanied by a Klezmer Bulgar, by artists Michael Adams and Sean Novak.  In addition, “Mizerlou,” an international folk melody, is complemented by animation from artist Vivek Patel.  All three animators are from FAU’s Florida Center for Electronic Communications (CEC) arts studio at FAU’s downtown Broward campus, Fort Lauderdale.

“The CEC enjoys working on joint projects.  Of course, the easiest animations are in our own backyard, working with fellow artists,” said Francis X. Mcafee, CEC interim director.  “The opportunity to work with Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Orchestra is an excellent example of the collaboration of music performance with computer animation.”

“Aaron Kula has managed, yet again, to transmute the Klezmer format into something entirely new, while retaining its original essence.  Audiences who attend these performances every year have had the chance to see the genre expand before their eyes with each successive concert,” said Dr. William Miller, director of FAU Libraries. “Aaron Kula is doing things with this music that no one else in the country has even thought of doing, and we in South Florida are fortunate to be here and witness his evolution as a concert artist.”

Florida Atlantic University Libraries takes the opportunity to recognize and honor a special person in the community at its annual Klezmer benefit concert.  This year the honoree is Arthur Jaffe, a quiet dynamo who has had several noteworthy careers during his lifetime--soldier, businessperson, fundraiser, book collector--any one of which would have been more than fulfilling for most people.  He will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his multi-faceted commitment and contributions to the arts and humanities.  Jaffe is also founder and curator of the Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection: Books as Aesthetic Objects, at FAU’s Wimberly Library and the major contributor to this extraordinary collection.

            The Klezmer Company Orchestra, founded in 1997 by Aaron Kula, has a reputation for high-energy performances and eclectic programming of traditional and non-traditional music.  The ensemble has performed before thousands at sold-out concerts, receiving critical acclaim for its unique style and innovative arrangements. The core group of eight distinguished musicians has accomplished backgrounds in classical, jazz and pop music, playing electric and acoustic violin, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, flügelhorn, trombone, bass, drums, percussion, piano and accordion. 

Kula joined the FAU faculty in 1997.  In the fall of 2003, he was appointed director of music collections at FAU Libraries.  Kula’s activities include research, archiving, lecturing, composing and performing.  He also serves on the faculty at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he has been conducting orchestras since 1986.  

             Other members of the group include: Randi Fishenfeld, violin; Dan Salmasian, saxophone; Chaim Rubinov, on trumpet; Steve Sigmund, trombone; Jacqueline De Los Santos, double bass; Steve Salo, drums; Teresa Flores, percussion; and Aaron Kula, on accordion and piano.           These musicians’ credits include nationally and internationally renowned artists: Bruce Springsteen, Dave Valentine, B.B. King, Clarence Clemons, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, the Bee Gees, Dionne Warrick, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Arturo Sandoval, Peabo Bryson, Quincy Jones, Marvin Hamlisch, Nestor Torres, Tito Puente, Jr., David Sanchez, Melton Mustafa, Miguel Cruz, Andrea Bocelli, Neil Sedaka, Vikki Carr, The Moody Blues, Yo-Yo Ma, Tony Bennett, Randy Brecker, Burt Bacharach, Aaron Neville and Dion.

For more information about the Klezmer Company Orchestra, visit www.klezmercompany.com.  Tickets to benefit the concert are $20, $28, $36 and $45 premiere seating.  Group discounts available.  For tickets, call 1-800-564-9539 or visit www.fauevents.com.

-FAU-

Photo #1 Cut line: The Klezmer Company Orchestra

Photo #2 Cut line: Aaron Kula, music director of the Klezmer Company Orchestra and

        FAU Libraries’ director of music collections

Photo #3 Cut line:  Shira Lissek, soprano