Matthew Lazar is the Founding Director of the Zamir Choral Foundation and the founder of HaZamir. As the leader of the Jewish choral movement in North America, his superior talents as conductor and interpreter of Jewish music have elevated the standards of Jewish musical performance and educated audiences. In addition to directing the Zamir Chorale, an adult choir, he has also created the Mantua Singers, the Selah Vocal Ensemble, and Shirah: The Community Chorus of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. He has inspired the creation of adult choral ensembles throughout the U.S. and, through the Jeanne R. Mandell Fund for New Music, has contributed to the expansion of the choral repertoire through commissions of new music by the finest Jewish composers. Maestro Lazar has also served as guest conductor for multiple symphony orchestras and festivals, and he presents regularly at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the other major concert halls across the U.S. and Israel. He has served on the faculties of Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, is a frequent lecturer and scholar-in-residence, and has made multiple recordings with Zamir and other prominent ensembles.
Vivian Lazar is the Director of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir. Ms. Lazar was chairman of the English department in a New York City magnet school for the gifted and talented where, for two decades, she taught honors English and dance. Ms. Lazar has created English and writing curricula for private new education initiatives and mentored teachers in the public sector. As an experienced amateur choral singer, Ms. Lazar brings to HaZamir an understanding of the musical and educational value of choral singing. Under her leadership, HaZamir has been increasingly professionalized and has expanded to include a growing number of programs and teens across North America and Israel.
Dani Paticoff, Assistant to the Director of HaZamir, received her BS in Music from Hofstra University on Long Island. Her lifelong passion for music began with voice lessons at age 6, continued as a student at Long Island High School for the Arts, and advanced in college at Hofstra University, where she was President of a Jewish a cappella group called Chai Notes. Dani comes to HaZamir after returning to New York from a year spent in St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked in the entertainment industry. Dani is thrilled to be back in New York and looks forward to working with the teens and staff of HaZamir. Dani can be reached at hazamir@zamirchoralfoundation.org.
Jeffrey Nadler, Director of Development. With over twenty years of experience working with non-profits, government and public officials Jeff’s experience includes serving as the Chief Development Officer for the JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly; Director of Development for Jewish Family Service of Bergen and North Hudson, where he created an award-winning campaign focused on hunger in the community; as well as Independent Curators International; and WNYC, New York Public Radio. jnadler@zamirchoralfoundation.org
Emma Miller, HaZamir Teen Educator, is a graduate of Kenyon College and the National Theater Institute. A Jewish educator and theater director, Emma is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Emma spent many summers on staff at the Mandel JCC of Cleveland's Playmakers Youth Theater, where she trained camp staff, developed innovative curricular programming, and was Assistant Director of Performing Arts Camp, and developed a passion for Jewish arts-based education. She has taught and worked with teens at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, The Temple-Tifereth Israel, Laurel School, The Mandel JCC of Cleveland, The Marlene Mayerson JCC Manhattan, Tkiya, Romemu, and B'nai Jeshurun. In addition to her work with HaZamir, Emma is co-artistic director of New York professional theater company The Hearth and is the Theater Arts Director at B'nai Jeshurun, where she created a new model for Jewish performing arts programming. Emiller@zamirchoralfoundation.org
