February 23rd SZALON!

1.    From the Szalon in Philadelphia, the Anonymous chamber choir, directed by Sheridan Seyfried, performs repertoire including Ola Gjeilo's Sacred Heart and Moses Hogan's arrangement of My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord

2.    Alex Meixner performs original compositions and adaptations of folk and classical melodies on a Slovenian Diatonic Helikon Button Accordion from his home studio in New Braunfels, Texas

3.    Nashirah: The Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia performs October Rain (choral arr. Natasha J. Hirschhorn), Tzadik Katamar by Emanuel Kirschner and Total Praise by Richard Smallwood, Julia Zavadsky, conductor, Soyeon Bin, pianist, from the Szalon

4.    Trio Sefardi (Susan Gaeta, Tina Chancey, Howard Bass) performs traditional Sephardic songs sung in Ladino, with bowed-string, plucked string, and percussion accompaniment, from the Szalon

5.    Pianist Dynasty Battles performs Brahms’ Rhapsody, Op. 79, No. 2, Hindemith’s Ludus Tonalis: XI. Interludium and an improvisation loosely based on those works, from the Szalon

6.    The Fairmount String Quartet (Rachel Segal and Leah Kyoungwoon Kim-Tomilson, violins; Beth Dzwil, viola; Mimi Morris Kim, cello) performs Soo Yeon Lyuh's "Yessori", from the Szalon

7.    Gina Kaz performs 2 original songs on piano and 1 original song on guitar, from the Szalon

8.    Classically Infused Dark Pop Duo Dina & Artem (Dina Layzis and Artem Tenkeli) perform 2 of their original pieces, from the Szalon

9.    Live from the Szalon, Gorgeous Porch (Chris Wood and Vivian Lehrer) performs three original indie-folk songs: My Life in the Trees, Half Moon Sleepers, and Sleep Doggy

10. Sharon Katz, Wendy Quick, and Jan Jeffries of The Peace Train perform South African music and original songs from Sharon's studio in Todos Santos, Mexico

Anonymous

Anonymous is an elite group of Commonwealth Youth Choir, one of three programs of the Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles (PYCE). Singers of Anonymous are ages 16-18 and have sung in Commonwealth Youth Choir for many years—many of whom have also toured several continents. Anonymous’ director, Sheridan Seyfried, is a Philadelphia-based composer, arranger, and choral director trained at the Curtis Institute and the Manhattan School of Music.

Commonwealth Youth Choir's website: https://pbgcsings.org/cyc/

Commonwealth Youth Choir on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063928245228

Alex Meixner

Alex Meixner is an acclaimed musician, educator, and leading advocate of polka music, known for revitalizing the genre through unique collaborations that blend classical, jazz, and ethnic influences. A fourth-generation musician inspired by his father, Al Meixner, Alex began playing piano at three before falling in love with the accordion. Since 2008, he has led The Alex Meixner Band, one of North America's top touring polka groups. Alex has recorded on over ninety albums, earning accolades such as a 1994 Grammy win with Walter Ostanek and a 2006 Grammy nomination for "Polka Freak Out." His contributions extend beyond music, serving as a national spokesperson for Hormel Pepperoni and lending his name to Faust Brewery's Alex Meixner Polka Pils beer.

Tips & Merch: https://alexmeixner.com/supportWebsite | https://alexmeixner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmeixnerband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alexmeixner
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YsrrLw5OTLWom39LJej40

Videos:

Nashirah: the Jewish Chorale of Philadelphia

Nashirah: the Jewish Chorale of Philadelphia enters its twenty-second year as the only auditioned, community-based chorale in the greater Philadelphia area performing exclusively Jewish and Jewish-themed music. Their distinct musical programming embodies the broadest possible range of Jewish repertoire, bringing together choral music of many lands, languages, and cultures, spanning the borders of many continents and the boundaries of time. Always striving for the highest degree of musicianship, they infuse their performances with “Neshama” ("soul"), by which they touch the hearts of our audiences here in the United States and Europe. Nashirah's singers hail from all walks of life in the Tri-State area and are united by a commitment to musical excellence, a love of singing Jewish choral music, and a special desire to openly share, enabling all listeners to experience the great beauty of the Jewish musical tradition. Nashirah is delighted to have the opportunity to express this beautiful art form and is proud to be the seminal chorale of its type in the Philadelphia area.

Links:

nashirah.org
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nashirah8339
Donate
Nashirah: The Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia | Philadelphia PA

Video:

Trio Sefardi

Trio Sefardi is dedicated to bringing the vibrant past into the living present and to continuing the musical traditions of those who created and sustained Sephardic song traditions and the Ladino language for more than five centuries since Spain expelled its Jewish population in 1492. The Northern Virginia-based trio (Susan Gaeta, Tina Chancey, and Howard Bass) draws on experience in folk music, jazz, early music, and the influence of their mentor, the Bosnian-born Sephardic singer/composer Flory Jagoda (1923 – 2021). The trio, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, has performed at the Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Piccolo Spoleto, the Center for Jewish History, and at festivals, JCCs, and synagogues from Maine to Florida and beyond, and has released five recordings.

Website: www.triosefardi.com
YouTube channel http://bit.ly/TrioSefardi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triosefard
*CDs are available by emailing howardbass7@gmail.com

Videos:

Dynasty Battles

Dynasty Battles, the recipient of the 2021 Career Advancement Award by the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia, recent engagements include hall debuts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall as a featured artist in the International Music Foundation’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, and the Benjamin Franklin Hall with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. Additionally, he made his international debut at the Barbican Centre in London while in residency with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, Battles recently debuted a composition by multiple Grammy nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Ted Hearne, composed for Dynasty himself, which was featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer. One highlight he looks forward to is debuting a piano concerto by composer Nina Shekhar, whose music has been performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynastybattles/
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@dynastybattles/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@dexter.gordon.71/

Videos:

Fairmount String Quartet

Described as “likable and warmhearted” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and “expert to the point of perfection” by the Chestnut Hill Local, the Fairmount String Quartet – Rachel Segal and Leah Kyoungwoon Kim-Tomilson, violins; Beth Dzwil, viola; Mimi Morris Kim, cello – has been leading the way in stretching the limits of the string quartet canon for 40 years. They are dedicated to bringing the intimacy and vitality of chamber music to diverse audiences and are committed to performing classical works of historically under-performed composers in addition to those in the standard classical repertoire, works by women composers, and works in diverse genres including pop, jazz, folk, and Latin music. The Fairmount String Quartet records on the Spring Garden Records label and is in residence at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Philadelphia.

Links:
Spotify
Website
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram

Discography:
Lou Harrison’s “String Quartet Set” to be released February 28, 2025
“StringFlo” music for yoga, Pilates, and meditation by Ellen Fishman (2023) featured in Strings Magazine and on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday
“Nodus Tollens” by Addison Rider (2023)
“Unleashed” music of women composers, Teresa Carreño, Ellen Fishman, and Fanny Hensel (2023)
“Amazing Grace” by Jennifer Higdon (2020)
“Spoken with Strings” pop music (2019)

Our recordings are available on all major streaming platforms. CD's, tees, and stickers can be purchased at live events or by request. Donations to help fund community concerts can be made via Zelle using fairmountstrings@gmail.com as the ID.

Gina Kaz

Gina Kaz is an Independent Artist, a Singer-Songwriter-Pianist, Award Winning Children’s Singer-Songwriter and Author, a Hospice Music Therapist, and a Mom of three. She was classically trained at The Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music as well as studied in college at Elizabethtown College. She has had two of her original songs aired on two ABC Family Shows.

She has just released her newest single, “Pretty,” which was produced in London with Patch Boswell. Gina has also released her full album, “Walk Through.” Her first single, “Honey,” was featured on 88.5 WXPN FM as the “Philly Local Pic of the Day.” She has Co-Produced this album with Grammy Award Winner/ Engineer, Glenn Barratt, and Award Winning Composer and Producer, John Conahan. Her album was recorded at Morningstar Studios.

Gina’s music is an expression of her imagination, heart, and her personality. Her voice and her songs embrace her vulnerability and power and hold her listeners close to the heart. She is an artist that gives her audience everything she’s got, and that is what you can always expect to experience at a Gina Kaz show. Her newest album is stunningly gorgeous and is a lush sensory experience with the uplifting message to create, dance, feel, grieve, and express yourself. You can find her newest album, "Walk Through," and single, “Pretty,” on all digital platforms.

Links:

https://www.ginakaz.com/
https://www.instagram.com/iamginakaz/ 

Video:

Dina & Artem

Dina & Artem, are a Classically Infused Dark Pop Duo consisting of Dina Layzis (vocals) and Artem Tenkeli (piano & guitar), whose music blends elements of contemporary pop with a strong foundation in classical music. A chance meeting on Instagram became the beginning of a collaboration between two classically trained musicians from different continents. A WhatsApp session turned into a songwriting partnership that transcended all odds. Together, Dina and Artem create a unique sound and story. Writing music and lyrics as a team, their songs push boundaries, color light with dark, and aim to connect with the parts of us that are the most human.

Links:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dinalayzisartemtenkeli
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dina_and_artem/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5ggjnvvnlGEMUnVqVfdaxq?si=yT8cresFTZOc_sAwfW6MOw
Additional Video: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1gffb0oagxaf3oya3esc8/Dina-Artem-Trains-Live-Video-HD.mp4?rlkey=i7w73rg95ox9scs324a6ehcjn&e=1&st=pr8qamn3&dl=0

Video:

Gorgeous Porch (Chris Wood and Vivian Lehrer)

Performing with a keyboard and guitar donned over his bass drum, longtime Philadelphian drummer Christopher C. Wood combines his raw basement drum beats with earnest sunny vocals and airy tones to create a style of lo-fi art rock which is surely his own. The live show features Vivian Lehrer on bass, an interesting array of instruments, Wood playing a casio keyboard and drums simultaneously; verbed out guitar and dreamy vocals, and an unexpected journey from song to song. Drawing inspiration from classic and modern psych rock and folk bands, Wood writes devotional, groove-laden, extraordinarily catchy songs that are as rhythmically unique as they are melodically majestic.

Ways Audience Can Support 
*We are raising money to record a new album that reflects and hopefully supports healing journeys! Your support is gratefully welcome: venmo @Vivian-Lehrer or paypal VLehrer@gmail.com.

Follow us on Spotify: Gorgeous Porch

Follow us on Instagram @GorgeousPorch and @VivianLehrer

Sharon Katz, Wendy Quick, and Jan Jeffries

From Carnegie Hall World Music Series to The Getty in LA, from New Orleans Jazz Fest to Philadelphia Folk Festival, South Africa’s Sharon Katz & The Peace Train have thrilled audiences and presenters with their Afro-Jazz-Rock-Folk fusion of global music and dance. After helping Nelson Mandela end Apartheid with their tour aboard The Peace Train, the band’s international career has featured performances and workshops on three continents; 10 albums including 5 on the Grammy ballot; starring in the award-winning film, When Voices Meet; and being recorded along with Elton John, Tina Turner and Paul Simon for Sting’s Carnival! album. Now with bases on the East and West Coasts of the USA, Sharon Katz & The Peace Train perform as a duo, trio, or full band with dancers. Sharon Katz, Wendy Quick, and Jan Jeffries of The Peace Train have been performing South African music and original songs together  for over 16 years. They will join the Szalon from Sharon's studio in Todos Santos, Mexico.

Management: Unity Productions, +1 267-207-4210,
GetOnThePeaceTrain@gmail.com

Bookings: https://www.wildtoneartists.com/ | Bookings@wildtoneartists.com
Tax Deductible Donations at Website: https://sharonkatz.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonKatzPeaceTrain/videos

Music: Listen at https://sharonkatz.com/music/ and on all streaming platforms

Award Winning Documentary, When Voices Meet: https://youtu.be/hIZRdn3rL-M?si=KgOFMtiCimgj-P26

Videos: