THE ART OF SHULMANSHIP SEMINAR (6) – 17th MARCH 2013
Enabling Singing Communities @ New North London Synagogue
(A tribute to Rabbi Dr Chaim Pearl, z’l)
For current & future Lay Leaders of Jewish prayer, Gabbaim, Shammashim & interested shul-goers
1.30 –
REGISTRATION - £15 / £7.50 concessions
1.45
1.45 –
WELCOME
2.00
2.00 – Track 1 - Session 1
Track 2 – Session 1
Track 3 – Session 1
Track 4 – Session 1
Chazan Stephen Cotsen Rabbi Joel Levy
Robert Davis
Chazan Jaclyn Chernett
3.15
GIFT OF THE
GABBAI:
Bima skills – how to
call up people,
misheberachs, etc.
The choreography
around the Torah
service.
3.15 –
3.45
3.45–
5.00
5.00 –
5.30
ALL FOR ONE AND
ONE FOR ALL:
Taking responsibility
for your inner life
and your
community’s outer
life
FIND YOUR VOICE:
Vocal coaching.
Sessions must be
booked in advance
robert_i_davis@hotm
ail.com
NUSACH – THE
LIFEBLOOD OF
JEWISH PRAYER:
Musaf for Shabbat
and Regalim – the
nusach, the opening
Kaddish and a
beautiful Hu Elohenu
to teach your
community.
Mincha, Tea & Networking
Track 1 – Session 2
Track 2 – Session 2
Track 3 – Session 2
Track 4 – Session 2
Chazan Stephen Cotsen
Rabbi Joel Levy
Robert Davis
Chazan Jaclyn Chernett
How to Teach
Melodies in Shul: the
much loved melodies
of Chazan Meir
Finkelstein and a
fondly remembered
Od’cha from his
father, Chazan Zvi
Finkelstein
BECOMING A
PRAYING PERSON:
First steps to finding
real meaning in
Jewish prayer.
FIND YOUR VOICE:
Vocal coaching.
Sessions must be
booked in advance
robert_i_davis@hotm
ail.com
ENABLING A SINGING
CONGREGATION:
Uncovering issues
relating to making a
spiritually satisfying
service; the
connection of the
leader of prayer;
liminal moments that
make the difference!
Let’s sing it!
All tracks are open to anyone, without any level of competency expected. Those who are new to leading prayer or just
interested will learn and those who are ‘old hands’ will increase their proficiency and gain new insights. The sessions are
standalone, offering various choices. Participants can choose to mix and match for a taste of the art of the possible.
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READ ABOUT YOUR SHULMANSHIP SESSION LEADERS
Cantor Jaclyn Chernett: The first woman in the UK to be ordained as a cantor, Jacky is a Jewish musicologist
and educator. She received cantorial ordination in 2006 from Rabbi Dr Martin Cooper, Cantor Sol Zim and Cantor
Ken Cohen at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. A prime mover in founding the first purpose-made
Masorti synagogue in the UK, she is also a founder of Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue, where she serves as its cantor.
Her current work includes the Direction of the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy – EAJL - a multilevel,
multinational and multimedia training organisation for inspiring and teaching leaders of synagogue prayer.
Cantor Stephen Cotsen: Stephen grew up in Cardiff and studied Chazzanut with Cantor Zvi Finkelstein in Cardiff
and at Jews' College, London. He has previously been the cantor at the Hackney and the Mill Hill Synagogues. In
1995 Stephen joined the New London Synagogue as a member, having been an admirer of the writings of Rabbi Dr
Louis Jacobs z"l, and was invited to succeed Cantor George Rothschild upon his retirement. He is now living in
Cardiff and is a freelance Chazan and Educator.
Robert Davis: Robert is chazan sheini at Edgware and District Reform Synagogue and sings in several of Britain's
foremost Orthodox choirs. He has recently resumed the operatic career he suspended to become a Languages
teacher but especially has combined these talents as an acclaimed singing teacher. He has appeared with ENO,
Dutch Touring Opera, Montepulciano Festival Opera and Grange Park Opera and is equally fond of jazz and many
other musical and singing styles.
N.B. Robert’s sessions must be pre-booked. How can I improve my voice? Do I sound to others the same as I
do to myself? Can I make my voice sound sweet in the ears of those receiving it? Am I aware of the effect I have as
a leader of prayer? Why do I run out of breath? By popular demand, the Art of Shulmanship is offering sessions with
voice coach Robert Davis. Please ensure you reserve your place as soon as possible by emailing
rob_i_davis@hotmail.com. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are or whether you have had professional voice
coaching or not. Those who book a slot, please prepare a very short paragraph of t’fillah (prayer) of your choice
(no more than 2 minutes’ duration). This session is intended as an open master class, where tips arising from each
singer are as useful for the whole group as the individual singer. Everyone is encouraged to bring a recording
device.
Rabbi Joel Levy: Rabbi Joel Levy became the Rabbi of Kol Nefesh Masorti in September 2001. Joel lives in
Jerusalem and is at Kol Nefesh each month. He studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and was chair of
the programme at Limmud. In 1989 he went to Israel to study and teach, returning to the UK in 1991 to serve as the
director of NOAM, the Masorti youth movement until 1994. He moved to Israel with his wife Susanna in 1994 and
learned in various institutions and yeshivot in and around Jerusalem. He received semicha from Rabbi David
Hartman in 2000. In Israel Joel teaches Talmud and is the acting Dean of at the Conservative Yeshiva. Joel is
married to Susanna Cohen, a long-time classical musician who is currently studying for a doctorate in psychological
aspects of musical performance. They have two daughters, Shira and Kalya, and live in Jerusalem.
Watch out for details of the next seminar: Art of Shulmanship 7 in Oxford
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