Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan – To launch an initiative that will integrate musical experiences across JCC programming, expand the work of the organization’s artist-in-residence, and build community through participatory musical experiences.

What kind of participatory musical experiences will this grant help create?

Our Signature grant will foster a participatory music culture across the MMJCC. We are inviting our community to step out of the audience and into Jewish music for us by us. We have leveraged this model with our inaugural musician-in-residence (MiR) to commemorate the anniversary of October 7, election day, Chanukah, Tu B’Shevat, and Purim. We created a winter Singing in the Round program at the close of Shabbat where our MiR and a slate of talented guests lead our community in group singing, complete with themes and song sheets for maximum impact. The future looks equally bright with our exciting plans for the spring holidays!

Can you give an example of how music will be applied to programming that already exists at your JCC?

This year, the Signature grant allows us to enhance our Tikkun offerings by inviting our MiR to create a track of musical experiences. Unlike the other artists that we bring in to perform at Tikkun, our musician-in-residence is able to build on the relationships and themes that have been developing all year to utilize our Tikkun as a celebration of not just the holiday of Shavuot, but the large initiative of participatory music. Our MiR has been working with different cohorts to sing our way through the Omer, another way we are linking Shavuot and our music initiative.

What is your favorite kind of Jewish music and what makes it meaningful to you?

The three Jewish albums that are currently on repeat for me are: I Was a Desert: Songs of the Matriarchs, Alicia Jo Rabins, The Camas High School Choir; Songs of Toratah: ZimraTah by Beit Toratah; Pious- my winter Jewish-themed Spotify playlist. Ask me for the link!