Launch of 2018-2019 Program Year by Milken Fund for Jewish Music in the United States, Focusing on American Jewish Music
The Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music Presents a Vibrant Academic Year of Events
The Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music is set to present an array of over a dozen performances this academic year, offering audiences the opportunity to explore how Jewish music reflects the American Jewish experience over time and across varied cultural influences.
One of the highlighted events is the collaboration between Opera UCLA and the Milken Fund, co-sponsoring "Lost Childhood," a two-act opera based on a memoir. This moving production features a Jewish Holocaust survivor and post-war German confronting their difficult pasts. The music was composed by Janice Hamer, and the libretto was written by Mary Azrael. A pre-performance program on music and the Holocaust is sponsored by the Milken Fund.
Another noteworthy event is the performance by the ARC Ensemble, a Grammy-nominated group, in "From India to Indiana," focusing on the works of Czech composer Walter Kaufmann and his unique fusion of Indian and Western art music. A pre-concert program explores Indian music.
The programmes are presented in a variety of performance modalities, including scholarly talks, workshops, musical theater performances, and Klezmer dance parties. All events are free and open to the public.
On May 13, there is a scholarly talk called "Restoring the Synagogue Soundtrack" featuring Professor Judah Cohen of Indiana University and UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music student vocalists. On January 12, there is a screening of the Emmy award-winning documentary "In the Fiddler's House," telling the story of Itzhak Perlman's encounter with world-class Klezmer musicians.
On February 23, there is an evening of musical theater that paints an historical picture of the American cantorate, directed by Tony-nominated Eleanor Reissa. "On the Cantors Couch" is a one-man show depicting 1950's Borough Park and the golden voices of cantors, featuring Cantor Mendelson and Cantor Jonathan Comisar, directed by Tony-nominated Eleanor Reissa.
Lorry Black, the Milken Fund's Associate Director, performs a high-energy Klezmer music concert in "Klezmer Xylophone: an Unconventional Love Story." On January 13, there is a day of workshops called "UClezLA" led by renowned musicians, culminating in a Klezmer dance party.
On November 18, a performance highlights the music of the European exiled composers of early Hollywood, including Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch, Erich Korngold, Andre Previn, and others, performed by the Ensemble for These Times.
The Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music is associated with events like the “East Meets West: A World of Jewish Music” performance by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. This event showcases a world of Jewish music, comprising live orchestral performances that reflect Jewish musical traditions.
Additional events in the academic year include a screening of the film "Symphony of the Holocaust" with a post-screening Q&A, held on May 25, 2025, highlighting Jewish cultural and historical themes through music and film.
The types of events under this fund typically include live orchestral concerts featuring Jewish music, both traditional and contemporary, film screenings and discussions related to Jewish music and history, and educational and cultural programming fostering awareness of American Jewish music heritage. These offerings combine performances, film, and Q&A sessions to engage audiences with Jewish musical culture historically and in contemporary contexts, supported by philanthropic foundations including the Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation.
For more detailed and up-to-date scheduling for the entire academic year, checking the official websites or direct contacts of the Lowell Milken Fund or the LA Jewish Symphony would be recommended. Furthermore, the collaboration between UCLA and the Academy for Jewish Religion, CA presents the concert "Bible Women," which gives voice to the women of the Bible through new lenses, featuring alumni from both institutions. The "ucLADINO: Simone Salmon Lecture Recital" celebrates the rich historical roots of Sephardic music and culture in Los Angeles, presented and performed by graduate student Simone Salmon in ethnomusicology. The "Shir Chadash (New Song) Series" features a performance of Jewish concert works composed in the last few decades, curated by UCLA Ph.D. candidate Michel Klein. Lastly, on December 9, there is a live reading of the award-winning fairy tale "Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins," accompanied by Klezmer music performed by the UCLA Klezmer Ensemble and songs performed by UCLA's JewkBox acapella group.
- The collaboration between UCLA and the Lowell Milken Fund for American Jewish Music presents a diverse academic year of events, including a concert series that features performances of Jewish concert works composed in recent decades.
- In addition to live orchestral concerts, the home-and-garden section of the Lowell Milken Fund's events schedule includes a day of workshops, "UClezLA," led by renowned musicians, culminating in a Klezmer dance party.
