who work as freelance concert singers at international opera houses. The SEB performs as a pure ensemble or works together with various cantors and is complemented by international soloists, choirs and orchestras depending on the concert program. In the course of its more than 20 years of existence, the SEB has developed a large repertoire: it includes Baroque synagogue music, 19th century works from Western and Eastern Europe, choral works from Israel, the USA and modern works. Numerous concerts in synagogues, churches and concert halls – a cappella, with organ accompaniment or with orchestra – have taken the SEB under the direction of its conductor Regina Yantian from Germany to Israel, Poland, Sweden, England, Italy, Serbia and South Africa. On its five published CDs, the SEB presents Jewish liturgical music from different eras. Since 2011, the SEB has been the host ensemble of the annual Louis Lewandowski Festival in Berlin, whose founder, Nils Busch-Petersen, is also a member of the board of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the SEB

Regina Yantian

Organist and choir director, Jewish Community of Berlin (Pestalozzistrasse Synagogue and Sukkat Shalom) Artistic director of the Louis Lewandowski Festival Regina Yantian began her training as an organist and choir director at the age of 10. She studied Jewish Studies and Comparative Musicology in Berlin, Heidelberg and Jerusalem. As part of her studies, she dealt in depth with the various forms of Jewish music. Regina Yantian completed her Master’s degree with a thesis on Israeli popular music. From 1998-2023, she was organist and choir director of the professional choir at the Pestalozzi Street Synagogue, which accompanies all Shabbat and holiday services during the Jewish year. After 25 years, her path led her to the Sukkat Schalom synagogue, where she is also responsible for the musical organization of the services. In 2002, Regina Yantian founded the professional Synagogal Ensemble Berlin, with which she frequently performs in Germany and abroad. In addition, as an experienced director of amateur choirs, she led the Schalomchor Berlin (2003-2010), founded by Estrongo Nachama, the Re’utchor Berlin (2010-2021) and the youth choir “Young SEB” (2013-2021). For her work with her current amateur choir “Refugiochor Berlin” she received an award from the Akademie der Künste, Berlin. Since 2011, she has been the artistic director of the Louis Lewandowski Festival in Berlin, to which choirs and ensembles from all over the world are invited every year to perform choral music on various Jewish-liturgical themes from different cultural backgrounds as well as music from Israel.