If you see Shelley Kramer, you're likely to hear violins.
That's because she's the conductor of Avivim, an all-female
orchestra made up of chareidi women who play only for
audiences of chareidi women. The orchestra which is about 6
years old features 16 musicians. "There are some that are
graduates of our department and there are Russian and Anglo
Saxon olim." The department she's referring to is the post
graduate music elective of the Machon Beit Yaakov Lemorot of
Jerusalem where she is director, and the Avivim Music
School, an independent corporation housed in the seminary.
Though they practice every week, the orchestra does only two
concerts a year but this year they'll be doing three. They
hope to add a few more to their repertoire. This is the
first year that they've had a name and hopefully this will
help them make a name for themselves, although Kramer is
more interested in making a contribution than making
vibrations in the music world. One of the concerts goes to
benefit Chayil, an organization which helps Russian olim.
The second concert is the end-of-the-year concert for the
seminary.
Avivim performs a classical repertoire and arrangements of
Jewish songs that are written for them. They perform with
the choir of the seminary as well as guest soloists. The
orchestra features violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe,
clarinet and bassoon. This year they found a French horn
player. "I don't have trumpet players because I can't find a
religious trumpet player," says Shelley. "Either we rewrite
for other instruments or do without. It also affects the
choice of repertoire."
These musicians are used to being selective. At the
seminary, the curriculum is censored. "We get around not
teaching opera or church music. The girls themselves go
through the whole creative process and elements of
composition without listening to somebody else's music. They
learn how music evolved, but without any of the Christian
connotations. Generally, harmony is learned through Bach
chorales, but not in Avivim. It's harder for the teachers
but the girls end up with the same skills and maybe even
more because they have to be a little more creative.
"There's a venue for chareidi women to express themselve
musically. Every once in a while we have a teacher coming
for a summer course and they are always deeply impressed by
their breadth in music. Within the framework of Bais Yaakov,
the girls are extremely dedicated. The religious community
has its own niche; you don't have to go into the wide world
to advance."
The musicians are up to professional caliber. They get a
minimal wage to cover travel and babysitters. "Most of the
women feel that their ambitions are satisfied within our
framework."
Avivim's next scheduled performances: 14th of Shevat, a
Chayil concert at Beit Ha'am, Rechov Bezalel. On the program
is a Bach violin concerto featuring a 12-year-old soloist
who is the daughter of one of the Russians who went through
absorption with Chayil. Also on the program: Introduction
and Allegro for harp and orchestra by Ravel, performed by
internationally acclaimed harp soloist Julie Bunsel; First
Movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and a choir and
orchestra arrangement of Nekadesh es Shimcha for
orchestra and choir by Shelley Nancy Sigal.
Tickets cost 50 NIS and are available by calling Gilat
Yizchaki: 02-6422744.
The next concert is 30 Shevat/Rosh Chodesh Adar. This is
sponsored by Chen Chareidi. For the first time, the
orchestra will be performing a children's (girls') concert
at Beit Ha'am. On the program: excerpts from Bizet, Saint
Saens, Beethoven and Ravel.
Tickets are available by calling Chen Chareidi at 02-
6295862.
