JERUSALEM A-CAPPELLA SINGERS

The Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers repertoire mirrors a prism of traditions. In recent years the ensemble has been invited to perform in the Knesset for State occasions.
Regular appearances include the Jerusalem Music and Arts Festivals, the Israel Museum, the Mormon University, St. Andrew’s Scottish Church, and the Abu Gosh Festival, where several concerts were recorded live and chosen for the festival CD. In addition, the Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers perform in Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas.

Notably, the ensemble won First Prize in an international liturgical music competition, and gave two world premieres of sacred works – one locally, with the Israel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Elli Jaffe, and the other in Italy. The BBC invited the ensemble to be part of a special project, filmed in Jerusalem and broadcast worldwide. In July 2014 the Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers participated in the “World Choir Games” held in Riga, Latvia – a prestigious competition attended by hundreds of choirs from all over the world – and were awarded the Gold Diploma.

The ensemble was founded in 1989 by Hagi Goren and its first conductor Oscar Gershenson. Other conductors, past and present: Ron Zarchi, Saul Zaks and, since September 2003, Judi Axelrod.

Born in London, Judi Axelrod is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. She won First Prize in voice competitions in the U.K. and was recipient of a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music to study voice with Jennie Tourel. She studied musicology at Liverpool University and voice and composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
After immigrating to Israel, Judi Axelrod worked with Avner Itai and Aharon Harlap, and was the soprano and music director of the Jerusalem Madrigal Quartet.

In 2002 Judi Axelrod turned her attention to conducting. Her passion is to find unique pieces of choral music from a specific area and add songs that show the ethnic sources. She has conducted the Zamir Chorale, the Jerusalem Oratorio Singers, the Ra’anana Symphonette, brass and chamber ensembles and members of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. In 2003 Judi Axelrod was appointed the conductor and artistic director of the Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers, and in 2009 was invited to conduct the ensemble Voce di Donne.

Jerusalem A-Cappella Singers »