Oshman Family JCC Launches School For Performing Arts

News from the Peninsula’s Oshman Family Jewish Community Center:

The Oshman Family JCC (OFJCC) has announced the opening of its new OFJCC School for the Performing Arts, which will offer afterschool classes in drama, music, and more for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school is open to students of all backgrounds and skill levels.

The premiere semester begins February 3 and will feature programs in choir and drama. This fall, additional theater, instrumental and vocal classes will be offered. Each semester will culminate in performances at the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at the OFJCC.

Each of the classes will expose students to the contributions of Jewish composers, playwrights and performers, according to Edna Koren, manager of the school, who created and developed the school curriculum.

Koren says, “As a musician and teacher, it has been my life’s pleasure and honor to engage, excite and ignite the creative passions of students in the performing arts. I have witnessed the immense joy, curiosity, enjoyment, and enrichment that the arts bestow on students of all ages.” Students will collaborate with their teachers and peers and will be involved in all aspects of the performing arts, front-and-center as well as backstage.”

Instructors Kay Kleinerman and Ofer dal Lal, respectively, have been named to lead the drama and choir classes for the spring semester.

Kleinerman reflects, “Why involve students in theater? Because theater is history; theater is language; theater is physical and kinesthetic. From theater, we learn about life, love and compassion. We learn what it means to be human. There can be no higher aim for children.”

The OFJCC School for the Performing Arts is now accepting registrations. Class descriptions and registration are available at http://paloaltojcc.org/schoolforarts. Classes will be pro-rated for students who register after the start of the program.

About Instructor Kay Kleinerman

Kay Kleinerman, Ed.D, is Managing Director of Music in the Schools, a non-profit organization that provides music education to K–8 students in East Palo Alto/East Menlo Park. She has taught music at Sofia University, UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State as well as the San Francisco Community Music Center. Kay has experience as a professional singer/actor, stage director, music director, producer and private voice teacher.

About Instructor Ofer dal Lal

Ofer dal Lal was until recently the musical director and conductor of the Jerusalem Oratorio Choir. He has conducted the world-renowned Berlin Radio Choir and co-founded the Daughters of Song choir in San Francisco. He was selected as one of 12 conductors from all over the world to take part in a special project entitled “Conducting 21C: Musical Leadership for a New Century,” part of the Music and Humanity Symposium in Stockholm.

About the Oshman Family JCC

The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center (OFJCC) on the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life serves the South Peninsula through educational, social, cultural, fitness, sports and other programs. The OFJCC is a multi-generational Jewish neighborhood where all are welcome and which fosters new personal and community connections through rich and rewarding experiences. The OFJCC provides a common ground for Jewish institutions, other local groups, organizations and individuals to work, learn and play together for the betterment of the whole community. The OFJCC’s registered trademark is Live Fully®.

For more information, visit www.paloaltojcc.org or call (650) 223-8700.

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