Chicago a cappella presents “Hanukkah a cappella”

CHICAGO (October 2022) - Chicago a cappella, Chicago’s acclaimed vocal ensemble, begins its 30th season this December with a new holiday concert program, “Hanukkah a cappella.”

With musical direction by Artistic Director John William Trotter, the program features stellar works by eight living Jewish composers—from heartfelt prayers to jazzy and playful holiday tunes— showcasing the creativity and vitality of American Jewish music and revealing the multi-layered joy, richness and meaning of this festival.

“This concert really is a unique new offering for Chicago’s holiday season,” said Matt Greenberg, Executive Director. “We are delving into the rich heritage of Jewish music for Hanukkah, both traditional and modern, with its humor, expressiveness and eloquence.”

Audio samples of the ensemble performing songs from this concert can be listened to on Chicago a cappella's website: https://www.chicagoacappella.org/concert-event/hanukkah-a-cappella/.

Artistic Director John William Trotter notes, “It’s a joy to collect so much of the great Hanukkah repertoire the ensemble has performed in years past and present it all together in one concert, along with some great new finds.”

Performances of “Hanukkah a cappella” will be held on the following dates and locations:

· Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at 8 p.m.| Congregation Rodfei Zedek, 5200 S. Hyde Park, Chicago

· Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, at 4 p.m. | Congregation Sukkat Shalom, 1001 Central Ave., Wilmette

The song list for “Hanukkah a cappella” is:

Maoz Tzur
Traditional Hebrew folk song, arr. Robert Applebaum

Haneirot Halalu
Robert Applebaum

Al HaNisim
Traditional folk song, arr. Elliot Z. Levine

Al Hanisim
Robert Applebaum

from Hallel Cantata
Hal’luyah! (Psalm 113)
B’tzeit Yisrael (Psalm 114)
Adonai Z’charanu (Ps. 115, vv. 12-18)
Hodu (Ps. 118, vv. 1-4)
Daniel Tunkel

Lo V’chayil
Elliot Z. Levine

S’vivon
Traditional, arr. Steve Barnett

Funky Dreidl (I Had a Little Dreidl)
S.E. Goldfarb and S.S. Grossman, arr. Robert Applebaum

Oh Chanukah / Y’mei hachanukah
Traditional Jewish folk tune, arr. Robert Applebaum

Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl
Mikhl Gelbart, arr. Mark Zuckerman

O, ir kleyne likhtelekh
Traditional, arr. Mark Zuckerman

Chanukah Lights
Gerald Cohen

Al Hanisim
Joshua Fishbein

Biy’mey Mattityahu
Jonathan Miller

Fayer, fayer
Vladimir Heyfetz, arr. Mark Zuckerman

Season memberships and single tickets are now on sale. There are four available membership packages:

· All Access Membership (best deal/most perks)

• Live Concert Membership (enjoy all the live concerts)
• Virtual Membership (enjoy on-demand concert replays)

· Flex Membership (most flexible)

Memberships and tickets can be purchased online at www.chicagoacappella.org/tickets. For more information, please visit www.chicagoacappella.org or call (773) 281-7820.

Virtual Options

Each of Chicago a cappella’s live concert programs will have a corresponding on-demand full concert replay, available within two weeks of the final performance. All-Access and Virtual members will receive free access to these, available to watch any time before June 30, 2023. Live and Flex members may exchange their live concert tickets for access to the replay or may use their 25% discount to add the replay access to their order.

About Chicago a cappella

Chicago a cappella brings together a group of ten fiercely talented singers who celebrate every genre of music imaginable with equal passion and commitment. With amazing voices, magnetic personalities, and true love for ensemble singing, their creative concert experiences truly connect with audiences, inspiring both awe and laughter.

Since the birth of the ensemble back in the early ‘90s, they have traveled the country, worked with amazing guest artists, and won awards for their CDs. Chicago a cappella is more than an ensemble. It’s an entire organization dedicated to furthering the art and appreciation of ensemble singing. The Youth Choral Festival has brought together high school kids from all over Chicago and the suburbs. ¡Cantaré! Chicago brings an artist from Mexico to be composer-in-residence in Chicago schools. HerVoice mentors and promotes emerging women composers in the art of a cappella choral music. The joy of ensemble singing is for everyone. They want everyone to be a part of it too.

John William Trotter became the ensemble’s second Artistic Director in July 2020, after having worked with the group as a guest music director since 2013. An acclaimed choral leader, he interacts with musicians and audiences to celebrate the gift of music and its powerful place in human identity.

For more information about Chicago a cappella, please visit https://www.chicagoacappella.org or call (773) 281-7820.

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