About

The Choir

HISTORY

Before the choir was formed, we were fortunate to have Doris Samuels providing music at services and then, on a more regular basis, by Cynthia Limburg, singing solo voice. Venues for services have included The Labour Hall and Balfour Road in Ilford until we moved to Oaks Lane, Newbury Park.

The Choir first appeared at the Erev Succot service in 1961, a four-part SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) group of 12 synagogue members led by Jack Paul. The choir grew in number reaching a peak of 22 members. The merger with the Settlement Synagogue led to the name change SWERS to SWESRS and brought in more choristers.

Our reputation within the Reform movement is well known. The choir has been fortunate enough to have worked with many Rabbis,  some of whom were members of the choir before entering the Rabbinate.  Rabbi Henry Goldstein has had the longest association with the choir- almost 40 years now.

The choir has been conducted by the following Choirmasters, all of whom have played a huge part in its development:- Jack Paul, Hans Hirschberg, John Auton, Bernard Pearlstone, Jack Rosenberg, Miles Fallman and Ian Jacobs.

 

LOCATION & PRACTICE

The Choirmasters, currently David Jacobs and Andrej Lipkin, lead rehearsals and services, assisted by a number of professional accompanists. The Treasurer looks after the choir's financial interests and the Co-ordinator looks after the music, administration and many other tasks. The choir fosters a family-feel amongst its members.

We have a mixed choir tradition (SATB-soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and take our music from a number of sources including Reform, Orthodox, Chassidic & Renaissance, as well as modern, Israeli, and original works by SWESRS people. The choir sings at Shabbat morning services (3 out of 4 per month), all Pilgrim Festival morning services, Erev Succot, Erev Simchat Torah and throughout all of High Holydays, including a very special choral Selichot service. Additionally the choir sing at concerts (approximately every 2 years). The concert repertoire may include some liturgical music, but primarily allows the choir the opportunity to sing music from other sources – such as pop songs and musicals.

 

OVERCOMING THE MISCONCEPTIONS OF THE CHOIR

I have to be able to read Hebrew...... Not so, the choir's music has the Hebrew transliterated into the English alphabet, you do NOT need to be able to read Hebrew.

I'd be scared to sing solo........You don't need the confidence to sing solo – many choristers have never sung a solo – there is no pressure to do so.

I'm too busy to sing all those services........that's OK we have a solution to that – join us just for High Holydays services, or sing at 1 or 2 Shabbatot per month.

I'm usually working on Pilgrim Festival days..........this is a common problem, plenty of choir members have missed morning Festival services for this reason, just sing at the evening service.

I can't commit to weekly rehearsals.........we can work around that, maybe you could do every other week!