Overview

Join the Spirit: Saturday, June 14, 2014 – 8:00 pm @ The Saban Theater, Beverly Hills

A World Humanitarian Aid concert to benefit Save A Child’s Heart, an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. Performers include Ilysia Pierce, Dr. Noreen Green, Ilan Davidson, The LA Jewish Symphony and many more to come. Celebrity guest appearances will also add to the excitement of the evening.

Featuring

Beneficiary

Honoree

  • To Be Announced
    To Be Announced
Venue

The Saban Theatre - Beverly Hills

index

Originally named the Fox Wilshire, opened its doors on September 19, 1930.  Designed by renowned theater architect S. Charles Lee, the Fox Wilshire building serves as an interesting example of Lee’s early Art Deco style. With its rich plaster work and heavy sculpture, this theatre is reminiscent of Lee’s other early work like the Baroque masterpiece The Los Angeles Theater and the Tower. Lee would later become famous for his clean simple Art Deco lines with theaters like the Bruin and the Academy Theater.

Now named Saban Theatre is open for theatrical rentals, concerts, television shoots, parties and more. It has seen many exciting productions including Billy Crystal’s “700 Sundays,” Chris Botti Live in Concert featuring Sting and Paula Cole, The Australian Pink Floyd Show and HBO’s Def Comedy Jam featuring Dave Chappelle.

Beneficiary

Save A Child's Heart (SACH)

Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child’s nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation.

SACH is motivated by the age-old Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. By mending the hearts of children, regardless of their origin, SACH is contributing to a better and more peaceful future for all of our children.

The SACH mission is achieved through:

 Providing life-saving cardiac surgery and other life saving procedures for children from developing countries at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel;

 Providing a full outreach training program for the medical personnel from these countries in Israel;

 Leading surgical and teaching missions to partner countries in the developing world;

 Holding pre-operative and follow-up cardiology clinics in Israel and abroad.

Honorees

To Be Announced

Performers

2014 Concert Performers

  • Cantor Ilan Davidson

    Cantor Ilan Davidson has been pleasing audiences with his singing since before he could read. At age five, he began singing with his Cantor, Philip Moddel, and hasn’t shut up since. At ten, he made his Operatic debut with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, as a street urchin. Since then, he has performed roles in and scenes from Die Zauberflote, Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicchi, L’Elisir D’amore, Les Pecheurs du Perles, and Manon, to name a few.

    Besides his Operatic experience, Cantor Davidson also has extensive background, performing and directing theatre. He has performed such roles as Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls and Tony in Westside Story, and has produced many one man musical theatre reviews. Ilan has also been the musical and artistic director for many children’s theatre productions.

    Among his many accomplishments, Cantor Davidson is also known as a contemporary Jewish songwriter and performer, having delighted audiences all over the world, including Israel and Lithuania with the soulful sounds of his music. As the owner of Davidsound Productions, the Cantor has produced many recordings, including his first original album, Stained Glass, in 1995. Most recently, Ilan’s band, The Moody Jews, released In A Hanukkah Mood. The Moody Jews are working on two more recordings in 2009, including Still In A Hanukkah Mood, a CD of new, original Hanukkah melodies.

    After making the choice in 1991 to pursue a career in Jewish Education, Youth Work, and the Cantorate, Cantor Davidson left the stage and in 1995 joined the Temple Beth El family, in San Pedro, where he has brought many new programs and much enthusiasm to the community. In 2007, Cantor Davidson founded KindredSPIRITS, a non-profit humanitarian organization that inspires and educates diverse communities to support its global partners. The inaugural event premiered June 5, 2008 at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Whether it is Hazzanut, Pop, Opera, Musical Theatre, or Folk music, Cantor Ilan Davidson shares his soul and genuine love in every note.

    When asked about his finest accomplishment, Cantor Davidson invariably responds, “After all the great concerts, services, and roles, my finest role in life is that of husband to my beautiful wife, Jodi, and daddy to my gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.”

  • Ilysia Pierce

    After pursuing a career in the theatre since childhood, Ilysia says it was “beshert”, meant to be, when Rabbi David Baron heard her sing just over ten years ago! It was after that meeting that Ilysia redirected her life and began her journey as the Cantor of Temple of the Arts in Beverly Hills, California. She has led Shabbat and High Holy Day services since 1999. In 2003 Rabbi David Baron and the Temple produced a CD, Enlighten which has elicited outstanding audience and critical review. Ilysia’s stirring rendition of “We Came to Sing in Jerusalem” was chosen to be on the Keeping the Faith, Voices for Israel 2 CD benefiting survivors of terrorism in Israel. Her vocal talents were also featured in the title song, “Keeping the Faith.”

    Ilysia began studying acting, voice and dance at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for the Performing Arts and received her BA in Theatre Arts at California State University, Northridge.

    Prior to her tenure at the Temple, Ilysia enjoyed a successful career entertaining audiences on stage, television, nightclubs and in concert. Some of her theatrical highlights include: Disney’s King David, an oratorio concert sparking the reopening of the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York (the original home of the Ziegfeld Follies), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, playing the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Frumah-Sara in Fiddler on the Roof with Theodore Bikel and Lainie Kazan, Eva Peron in Evita which she received a Dramalogue Critics’ Choice award for outstanding performance, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd, to name a few.

    Ilysia was thrilled to originate the role of “Miss Oops-A-Daisy” for the nationwide PBS television show, The Huggabug Club, where she was able to teach children “it’s okay to make an oopsie, everyone makes mistakes sometimes!”

    Ilysia’s reputation as a consummate entertainer has prompted invitations to sing in concerts as the featured guest artist at local venues, various fundraising events and at Pan Pacific Park’s Holocaust Memorial Yom HaShoah event.

    Of all her successes and accomplishments, Ilysia says the one she is most thankful for is that of wife to her supportive husband, David, and mother to her two beautiful children, Braxton and Madison.

  • Dr. Noreen Green

    DR. NOREEN GREEN, LAJS Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor, is also music director at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, a renowned lecturer on Jewish music, and an accomplished educator. She is known world-wide for her knowledge and skill in presenting music with Jewish themes.

    Green has received public recognition for her outstanding contributions to the multi-cultural musical scene in Los Angeles by Congressman Brad Sherman and by the Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life. She has received the “Jewish Cultural Star” award presented by the National Foundation of Jewish Culture at The Jewish Image Awards, the “Golda Meir Award” from The State of Israel Bonds, the “Hall of Fame Award” from the National Association of Women Business Owners and the “Women of Significance Award” from Adat Ari El Sisterhood. She has been a featured speaker for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Upbeat Live series and conducted at the opening ceremonies of the 2001 Maccabi Games in Philadelphia. Dr. Green has been guest conductor for Jewish Music concerts with the Rubin Academy Orchestra in Tel Aviv, the Johannesburg Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony at the new performing arts center in Herzliyah and the R’aanana Symphonette . Under her baton, LAJS has performed in concert with Hollywood personalities including Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Leonard Nimoy, Randy Newman, Theodore Bikel, Laraine Newman, Valerie Harper, Pat Boone, Lainie Kazan, Fyvush Finkel, Dave Koz, Marvin Hamlisch, Roslyn Kind, David Benoit and others.

    During her tenure with the LAJS, Green, along with Education Director Ilizabeth Gilbert, has developed education programs initially funded by the New and Innovate Grants division of the Jewish Community Foundation. Several of these programs have gone on to receive funding from the Righteous Persons Foundation, the Maurice Amado Foundation, the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, the Leonard and Susan Bay Nimoy Foundation and the Tel Aviv/Los Angeles Partnership. LAJS received a substantial education grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for its Patchwork of Cultures program which uses music to show the cultural bridge between the Sephardic Jewish and Hispanic communities.

    Green received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at California State University, Northridge under conductor John Alexander. From 1981 to 1990, she was the conductor of the American Jewish Choral Society. As West Coast Music Director of the David Nowakowsky Foundation from1992 to 1998, Green presented an annual concert series of the Nowakowsky Chorale. She wrote her doctoral treatise on the music of Nowakowsky, and went on to edit many of his works, ten of which have been published by Laurendale.

    From 1986 to 1992, Green was an Assistant Professor at CSUN and in the summer of 1993, she worked with conductor Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Music School. With his support and encouragement, she developed the concept for and founded the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.

  • LA Jewish Symphony

    The mission of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony is to perform orchestral works of well known, as well as not commonly recognized Jewish composers; establish opportunities for the presentation of new compositions by Jewish artists; serve as a professional resource for aspiring Jewish and non-Jewish musicians; act as an educational medium for Jewish music and composers; and provide educational opportunities for diverse populations of school age children.

    Since 1994, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony has been dedicated to the performance of orchestral works of distinction, which explore Jewish culture, heritage and experience. It also serves as an important resource for aspiring composers and musicians. As part of its mission, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony is committed to building “bridges of music” and understanding within the diverse multi-ethnic communities of our great city.

    Since its debut performance in 1994, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, under the baton of Artistic Director Noreen Green, has won local, national and international acclaim for its inspired programming featuring commissioned new works and many world premieres. Its performances at numerous prestigious venues locally and overseas have played to the ovation of standing room only audiences.

    In addition to its yearly concerts, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony develops and conducts educational outreach programming for over 1000 school children each season. The Symphony’s commitment to our future generations reflects its belief in the life affirming value and importance of music appreciation.

    The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony fills a cultural niche that revitalizes the legacy of Jewish music and spans the broad range of Jewish heritage from the nadir of adversity to the triumph of accomplishment. In the words of the Los Angeles Times “…the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony seems committed to the axiom that diversity is a terrible thing to waste.”

  • Agape Choir

    The Agape International Choir, under the direction of Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith, is the core Music Ministry of the Agape International Spiritual Center.

    People all over the world have shared how the Sound of Agape has helped them in their personal transformation. The key ingredient is simple and yet profound… they know how to love and you can feel their love in their music, in their speech and in their actions in the world.

    The Agape International Choir has been honored to perform in such prestigious venues as Lincoln Center, the United Nations, the Greek Theatre, the John Anson Ford Theatre and the Getty Museum. The choir has been a featured guest performer for three of the World Festivals of Sacred Music held by the City of Los Angeles. Their songs, written by Dr. Rickie Byars Beckwith and Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, are known and sung all over the world and are a highlight of many diverse spiritual services and celebrations.

    Musical Director Rickie Byars Beckwith’s exceptional talents have brought her acclaim as a pioneer in contemporary spiritual music, while Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith is the visionary, founder and Spiritual Director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City with a membership of approximately 9,000 members. Together, this dynamic couple travels extensively sharing their music and message of love and unity with the world. According to Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, taking a stand on love is our offering to the world and emerges as a pillar of the Agape movement.

  • Bea Miller
    Bea Miller

    Bea Miller, the fourteen year-old Maplewood, NJ native, wowed the nation as a finalist on the second season of The X Factor with her poignant and soulful renditions of songs such as Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” and Dido’s “White Flag”. Bea is the first signing to Hollywood/SYCO Records collaborative label arrangement and is currently working on her debut album! Bea also appeared in the film Confessions of a Shopaholic and has performed voice work for Toy Story 3 and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

  • Freda Payne
    Freda Payne

    Talented singer and actress Freda Payne was born on September 19 inDetroit.  Freda modeled and took ballet and Afro-Cuban dance. While at Hutchins Middle School, she appeared on the nationally televised Ted Mack’s The Original Amateur Hour. Singing jingles, Payne was featured on WJR radio’s Make Way for Youth and many other local television and radio shows. Payne’s mother spurned a contract from, then unknown, Barry Gordy.

    When she graduated from Central High School Freda Payne toured with Pearl Bailey’s musical review and sang with the Duke Ellington Band. Her first album was After the Lights Go Down for ABC’s Impulse Records in 1962.

    Moving to New York City, Freda made appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show and The Dick Cavette Show. In 1964, she joined the Four Tops, Billy Eckstine, and Nipsey Russell on theQuincy Jones Tour. Payne was understudy for Leslie Uggams in Broadway’s Hallelujah Baby! in1967. She also performed in the Equity Theatre production of Lost in the Stars. Stardom for Payne began when she signed with Invictus Records, ran by her old Detroit friends, Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr. and Lamont Dozier (formerly of Motown) in1969. Payne’s smash single “Band of Gold” in 1970 was ranked #1 in the U.K. and #3 in the U.S.A., her first gold record. Other hits included “Deeper and Deeper”, “You Brought Me Joy” and the anti-war, “Bring the Boys Home”. As her star kept rising, Payne appeared in television specials and toured Europe and Japan.

    Although she left Invictus in1973, to date she has recorded 21 albums including several remakes of “Band of Gold”. In1974, she made the cover of Jet magazine after she was dubbed a Dame of Malta, by the Knights of Malta and the Sovereign Military and Hospital Order of St. John of Jerusalem by the Prince of Rumania. Payne hosted Todays Black Woman, a talk show, in 1980 – 81 before joining the cast of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies in 1982. She also starred in productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’ with Della Reese, The Blues in the Night, Jellies Last Jam with Gregory Hines and Savion Glover into the 1990’s. Payne film appearances include: Private Obsession , Sprung , Ragdoll , The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps  and Fire and Ice.

    On April 22, 2009 Freda appeared onAmerican Idol and sang “Band Of Gold”.  In February 2010, Freda joinedKanye West, Jordan Sparks,Jennifer Hudson, Barbra Streisand and many more on We Are The World for Haiti Relief.

    In 2011 Freda sang a duet with Cliff Richard called ‘Saving A Life’ from his ‘Soulicious’ album.  She also toured England with Cliff in the fall of 2011.

    July 2014, Freda is releasing her new Jazz CD “Come Back To Me Love” on  Mack Ave. Records.

     

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the Kindred Spirits Concert or Foundation, please fill in the form below and we will get back to you shortly. Thank you.

Not readable? Change text.
0