Congregation Beth Israel

Join CBI’s Klezmer Band!

Musicians needed! Newcomers who can read music (high schoolers welcome!) and former klezmer band musicians are welcome! We play at holidays and events at CBI throughout the year. Please contact Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky at n.ulyanovsky@gmail.com.

Southside Strummers
Wednesdays at 6:30pm

Join CBI’s ukulele group! For questions, email congregant Rick Spear.

Shir Joy—CBI’s Adult Choir
Sundays at 10:30am, September 27 & October 4, 18, 25

Shir Joy will be starting its fifth year! We welcome anyone who loves to sing, and is interested in singing contemporary Jewish music with a group of adults with varying musical backgrounds. We sing unison, simple two-part music, partner songs and rounds. There are opportunities for solos as well. Reading music is not required, and recordings are sent to help learn the music. Led by Laura Deutsch, choral director, cantorial soloist, music teacher and song-leader, we learn about music as we sing together in joyous community. There has been extensive research on the many benefits of singing with a group: physically, emotionally, and in our case, spiritually. We have opportunities to sing for the both the congregation, as well as several senior living facilities. If interested, please contact Laura at singalongtoo@gmail.com, and coffee and treats before our first practice!

ShiraNote—CBI’s Youth Choir
Sundays During YEP Starting October 4, Grades 3-6

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
On May 16, ShiraNote wrapped up another amazing year. They were honored to lend their voices to the Saturday morning service held by congregant Rabbi Tami Goodman at The McAuley in West Hartford. The kids were incredibly well behaved and sounded beautiful, representing the CBI community with pride and joy! After services, singers and their families gathered at the home of their director, Naomi Scheinerman, for a potluck lunch to celebrate their accomplishments. Everyone is looking forward to singing together again soon! ShiraNote took a break for the summer and resumes on October 4. Check YEP newsletters for updates, register at cbict.org or scan the QR code. For questions, please email Naomi Scheinerman at naomi.k.scheinerman@gmail.com.

Organ Sounds is our popular concert series started by our own Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The concert series highlights our historic 1934 Austin organ and often features special guest soloists. The concert series is supported by CBI congregants; organ music lovers who helped to completely restore our historic organ and wish to continue to keep this majestic instrument sound alive. All concerts are held at Congregation Beth Israel (701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford). Concerts are free, open to the public and both in person and livestreamed. A suggested donation of $20 is welcome at the concert, or please use our online system www.cbict.org/support to support these musical programs.

Built by Austin Organ Company in 1934 as its Opus 1853, the four manual, three thousand pipes organ was especially crafted to match the acoustics of the magnificent Beth Israel sanctuary. Our Austin organ was the last 4 manual instruments built by the original Austin company. In 2004 representatives of the American Historical Society presented to CBI its Historical Organ Citation plaque, declaring the CBI organ to be of significant historical importance. 

UPCOMING CONCERT:

From Israel With Love
Tuesday, November 17 at 7pm

Join us for this performance by the amazing guest Ukrainian musicians Ella Pasik (pianist) and Konstantin Rittel-Kobyliansky (baritone). The broad variety of the program will include opera, operetta arias, Neapolitan songs, Israeli music as well as Ukrainian, and even some Broadway hits! Tickets will be on sale and must be purchased ahead of time for $40 per person, $25 for Seniors and Students with ID. There will not be tickets sold at the door. Link to purchase tickets coming soon!

Natasha Ulyanovsky

Our former music director, and creator of the Organ Sounds Concert Series, Natasha Ulyanovsky, is a concert pianist, organist, conductor and vocal coach. A graduate of Odessa Conservatory, Ukraine, she continued her musical studies at Moscow Conservatory, Vilnius Conservatory, Lithuania, Queen’s College, Oxford. In the former USSR she worked as an orchestra artist and vocal coach at Odessa Opera House, and concertized under auspices of “Soyuzconcert”, a booking agency for professional musicians, both nationally and worldwide. She has performed in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Israel, Italy, and the Virgin Islands. In 1988 she earned the title of Honored artist of Abkhazian Republic of USSR. After immigrating to the United States, she taught music at the Hotchkiss and Kent Schools, Hartt School, CCSU, and performed at the Bushnell Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Interchurch Center in NYC, CCSU, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, and Wesleyan University, CT. She is a co-founder of Allabreve Opera Company and Institute of Slavic Music – workshops for singers. As an active AGO member she gives lessons and lectures to young organists during Pipe Organ Encounter conferences. Her recent performances include “Chopin In the City” festival in Chicago, International Organ festival in Ravenna, Italy, Summer Music Festival at NBMAA, CT,  Beth Israel Organ Sounds, CBI. She served as the Music Director at CBI for the past 23 years. Since 2006 she has organized the “Beth Israel Organ Sounds” concert series, providing the Greater Hartford Community the chance to hear our splendid 1934 Austin organ. In 2011 she was honored as Immigrant of the Year by the CT Immigrant and Refugee Coalition for her outstanding contribution to community in the State of CT.

Congregation Beth Israel is delighted to present this series of concerts of inspiring and uplifting music to listen to in your home.

December 7
Haneirot Halalu: A Happy Chanukah Musical Compilation
featuring the a cappella sounds of Six13, our own Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky with flutist Gonzalo Cortes and the singing group the Maccabeats, performing the music of George Frideric Handel, Félix-Alexandre Guilmant, Bonia Shur, and more.
Click HERE to listen.

November 2
Of Thee I Sing
with the music of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Harold Arlen as performed by performers and CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky and Monika Krajewska (pictured), and nationally-known singers Sarah Vaughn and Cynthia Erivo.
Click HERE to listen.

October 19
Broadway Baby
featuring Lauren Persky and CBI Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky.
Click HERE to listen.

September 14
Prepare for the Shofar Sound with the Music of Louis Lewandowski (1821-1894)
showcasing the talents of CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on the synagogue’s historic 1934 Austin organ.
Click HERE to listen.

September 1
Jewish Jazz
Enjoy our newest concert showcasing clarinet player extraordinaire Carolyn Bernstein (with piano by CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky). The concert includes popular tunes by Benny Goodman, Kurt Weill, and Abraham Ellstein.
Click HERE to listen.

August 17, 2020
My Favorite Things
Our concert series continues with our own dedicated Shiranote and adult choir member Molly Singer, with piano by CBI Music Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The concert includes popular tunes by Harold Arlen, Nat King Cole, Antonio Carlos Jobim and others.
Molly has starred in CBI’s Purim Shpiels and has performed at the West Hartford Summer Arts Festival.
Click HERE to listen.

August 3, 2020
Music for Organ & Strings
featuring Peter Dzialo on cello and our own Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on organ.
Enjoy the concert.

July 20, 2020
The Music of Salamone Rossi
outstanding Jewish violinist, singer and composer of the late Renaissance/Early Baroque Era.
Click HERE to listen.

July 3, 2020
Being Alive
featuring singer Patrick Buckley and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky. The two are performing the works of Stephen Sondheim, Harold Arlen, Stephen Schwarz and more.
Click HERE to listen.

June 7, 2020
Violin Moods
featuring Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky accompanying Dan Monyak on the piano, playing works by A. Piazzolla, J. Massenet, and V. Monti
Click HERE to listen.

May 25, 2020
Yiddish Art Songs
featuring Monika Krajewska and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky
Click HERE to listen.

May 11, 2020
Yiddish Theater and Broadway Tunes
featuring Cantor Stephanie Kupfer and Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky
Click HERE to listen.

April 27, 2020
Somewhere
featuring Musical Director Natasha Ulyanovsky on piano and Max Schwimmer on saxophone
Click HERE to listen.