Jewish Federation calls for community support of World Choir Games

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati invites the entire community to welcome and show its support for the Israeli Ankor Choir, which will compete in the 7th World Choir Games being held in Cincinnati, July 4–14. The choir is comprised of 25 female students, ages 16–18, of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. The Ankor Choir is the house choir for Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Museum, and has sung for dignitaries from around the world, including Pope John Paul II.

Volunteers are needed to escort the choir around town, serving as representatives of the greater Cincinnati area. Sign up for one of three daily shifts, July 3 through 14. Yair Cohen, community shaliach (emissary from Israel), said, “The role of the volunteers is to make the choir’s experience in America positive and meaningful. We want these young women to experience the warmth and friendliness that Cincinnati — and especially the Jewish community — has to offer.”

Community members are also invited to show their support by cheering for the choir at their competition concerts, to help them win a gold medal and achieve the highest score, which will earn them the title of Champion of the World Choir Games. The Ankor Choir will compete during the first week of the games (July 4–7); the schedule has not yet been released, but stay tuned for more details.

Between their competitions and the closing ceremony of the games on July 14, the Ankor Choir will tour the local Jewish community, visiting Cedar Village and the Mayerson JCC’s Camp at the J. Most notably, the choir will perform as part of a Friendship Concert at the JCC on Monday, July 9, at 7 p.m. This concert, which is sponsored by the Wolf Center for Arts & Ideas at the JCC, is free and open to the entire community.

The World Choir Games is the largest international choral competition in the world. Previous games have been in Austria, China, Germany and South Korea. More than 360 choirs from 48 countries will participate in this year’s Games, at venues located in downtown Cincinnati.

For more information about the choir, the World Choir Games or becoming a volunteer, contact Yair Cohen at The Jewish Federation.