Submitted by the Skirball Museum
In conjunction with its exhibition, “Frank Stella: Had Gadya, Illustrations after El Lissitzky,” the Skirball Museum is offering a multi-media virtual presentation on Had Gadya by Cantor Ella Gladstone Martin. Martin was ordained earlier this month by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. The presentation will be delivered via Livestream on Wednesday, June 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Local patrons may join together in Mayerson Hall on the historic Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR to watch the presentation on the large screen surrounded by Frank Stella’s stunning prints. Curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz will host the in-person program.
Martin was born in Jerusalem and raised in Toronto, Canada where she received her Bachelor of Music in jazz voice at the University of Toronto. She has a Masters in sacred music and her passion is healing and uplifting communities of all ages through prayer. She is the proud recipient of several academic honors including the Women of Reform Judaism’s Morris Zimmerman Memorial Award in Torah Cantillation (2022), St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music Prize for Vocal Development (2021), Isaac Mayer Wise Scholarship (2020) and the Atara Merit Scholarship (2019-Present). Beginning in July, Martin will be serving at Community Synagogue of Port Washington, New York.
The Passover Seder is an inherently musical experience, filled with beloved prayers and songs. Cantor Martin will discuss the research behind her graduating thesis, a historical examination of hagaddot (Passover Seder compendiums) that expressly set out to disseminate music, and survey the unique history, symbolism, and musical settings of Had Gadya. The program will have live and recorded components, followed by opportunities for questions and comments from the audience.
To register for the lecture or to learn more about public programs, please contact the Skirball Museum, Autumn Wheeler, or visit the Skirball Museum Exhibition website.
“Frank Stella: Had Gadya: Illustrations after El LIssitzky is on view at the Skirball Museum through July 2, 2023.
