New Classic Singers continues its 30th season with KADOSH, a celebration of Jewish choral music, on Saturday, March 3, at 8 pm, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Lombard. Music Director and Founder Lee Kesselman will conduct the 32 voice adult ensemble and guest instrumentalists as it presents its third concert of Jewish choral music in its history. William Buhr will accompany. Christ the King Catholic Church is located at 1501 S Main Street, Lombard.

“The Hebrew words Kadosh, Kiddush and Kaddish all stem from the same roots,” says director Kesselman. “Much of our concert will sing the prayer texts that come from these words. The Kadosh text gave birth to the Sanctus movement in the Christian Mass. Kiddush is the prayer over the wine. And Kaddish has become best known as the prayer for the dead. Our program will circle around these texts and some of the Christian prayers that grew from them.”

The Singers will sing music by famous Jewish composers including Lewandowski, Leonard Bernstein, Salamone Rossi, Kurt Weill, and Max Janowski. There will also be a special section devoted to songs by Debbie Friedman, the beloved songwriter/singer who died last year. The program will close with a selection of popular Klezmer-style songs, featuring Don Jacobs, clarinet, Rich Armandi, bass, and Steve Hawk, drums.

NCS will also premiere a new work by director Lee Kesselman, Kaddish for My Father, written especially for this concert. Kesselman’s father died when he was 20 years old and this work is a tribute to him, composed for chorus, clarinet and piano.

New Classic Singers has been entertaining DuPage audiences with the finest in choral singing and repertoire. Members include solo vocalists, educators, and other fine singers from through the Chicago area. The ensemble is known for its imaginative programs and vocal excellence. NCS concerts have been an annual treat for DuPage audiences since 1982.

Director Lee Kesselman is widely known as a conductor, composer, and arranger. His choral music is performed internationally and his leadership of NCS has made the ensemble a beacon of choral music in the Chicago area. He brings a unique composer’s perspective to his work as music director.

Tickets for New Classic Singers are available through our online ticker order form, or at the door. Special rates are available for students, seniors, and groups.

This event is now on Facebook.

Guest Artists

Donald Jacobs has been playing klezmer clarinet since 1983. He plays in the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, the Jazmer Ensemble, and The Guitars of Spain, a flamenco group. He also does arranging in these bands. Don has studied with klezmer musicians Sid Beckerman and Kurt Bjorling, and studied jazz improvisation with Rich Corpolongo. He has taught clarinet and saxophone students for many years in the Chicago area.

Ever since he can remember, drummer Steve Hawk has always known that he wanted to be a musician.  In Jr. High Steve played drums in the school concert band, and started a band that played original compositions and cover music.  Steve later earned advanced music degrees from the Berklee College of Music, Northwestern University, the VanderCook College of Music, and trained with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  Steve performs with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, the Brass Tracks Jazz Orchestra, the Outcasts Jazz Band,and the Highland Park String Orchestra.  Steve also teaches band and general music in the Elmwood Park, IL public schools.  He is also thrilled for yet another opportunity to work with the New Classic Singers.

Richard Armandi is one of the most versatile and in-demand musicians and educators on the Chicago scene today. As a jazz bassist he has performed with such luminaries as Marion McPartland, Barry Harris, Bobby Shew, David Baker, Jamey Aebersold, Dick Hyman, Scott Hamilton, Carl Fontana and many others, and has performed with such stars as Rosemary Clooney, Bob Newhart, Martin Short, Phyllis Diller, Rich Little and many others. As a tubist he has performed with the Lyric Opera, American Ballet Theater, Grant Park Orchestra, Chicago Brass Quintet, and as featured soloist with the New Philharmonic, Ethos Chamber Orchestra, Concordia University Wind Ensemble, and at the 1992 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference. He has been recorded on many album projects including three with the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, and on many commercial jingles. He is in constant demand as a bassist and tubist in almost every conceivable musical genre. As an educator he currently serves on the faculties of College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL), Triton College (River Grove, IL), and Trinity Christion College (Palos Park, IL) teaching bass, low brass, jazz combo and improvisation. He has also served on the faculty of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1990.