By Eileen Wingard     List of honorees         Louis Rose Society         Jewishsightseeing home       San Diego Jewish Times

New Shell For The JCC

By Eileen Wingard
San Diego Jewish Times, June 16, 2006

What a difference a shell makes! The benefits were apparent at the 7^th Annual San Diego Jewish Music Festival, especially at the programs that were classical in nature. White, sound-enhancing panels directed the sound toward the audience, improving the listening experience.

Thanks to the shell, the three festival presentations utilizing human voices and acoustical instruments were comfortably heard and appreciated. With no microphones or amplifiers to augment or distort their sound, the music, instead of getting absorbed into the velvet curtains, radiated out to the listeners. Audiences enjoyed the natural sounds of the inspiring May 15 violin recital: Music Heard in Terezin with Zina Schiff, violin and Mary Barranger, piano; the exciting Celebrating Shostakovich concert with Hila Plitmann, soprano, Alma Mora, mezzo-soprano, Cantor Mark Saltzman, tenor accompanied by Neal Brostoff, piano and David Akasap, accordion, and the piano trio with Joseph Dorfman, piano, Mark Kashper, violin, Barry Gold, cello on May 24; and the exuberant Cuarteto Latinoamericano with Saul and Aron Bitran, violins, Javier Montiel, viola, Alvaro Bitran, cello on May 30.

The gift of the shell was made by JCC Music Committee Chair Roselyn Pappelbaum and her family in memory of her mother, Sylvia Gibbs. Mrs. Gibbs, a professional violinist, instilled in her progeny a love of music. Her daughter Roselyn, an accomplished pianist and music supporter, has served as chair of the JCC Music Committee during its seven years of planning and presenting Annual Jewish Music Festivals.

 "I know my mother would have been pleased with such a memorial," said the dedicated JCC Music Committee chair.

Working together with JCC Program Director, Jackie Simha Gmach, Roselyn has displayed outstanding leadership and organizational skills, attracting a loyal group of committee members. These include professionals such as conductor David Amos, cantor emeritus Sheldon Merel, and retired San Diego Symphony violinist Eileen Wingard. Other musicians on the committee are flutist Ted Parker, violinist Diane Berliant and violist Shirley Brody. The committee also consists of non-performing music lovers Naomi Crosby, Phyllis Epstein, Heather Maio, Brian Miller, Sandra Silverstein, Geri Stevens and Francie Ugoretz. The group welcomes new members who are willing to help select, produce, and support its programs.

For further information, call Jackie Gmach at 858-457-3030. The final program of this year’s San Diego Jewish Music Festival will be Klezmer in the Park at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on June 22, 6:15 p.m. featuring the Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble under the direction of Bob Zelickman and Debbie Davis.