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4/30
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46 Detroit Jewish News

some, but I have to guess a lot on mean-
ing." She adds, "I have been singing in
choirs most of my life. But this is a new
challenge.
She describes the young girls as

Formerly of The Closet Company, Inc.

hey sing Gershwin and
Andrew Lloyd Webber
tunes, wear blue jeans
and modern American
hairstyles, but 95 percent of them
do not speak enough English to
comfortably converse. They are the
Jewish Community Center
Intergenerational Choir and are
comprised almost solely of seniors
and youth from the former Soviet
Union.
Directed by Larissa Matusova,
the group rehearses twice weekly at
Larissa Matusova gestures to the choir to sing
the Jimmy Prentis Morris building
a
lower note.
of the Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit. They per-
"adorable, brilliant, high-energy and
form songs in English, Hebrew, Yiddish
excellent musicians."
and Russian, present nine to 10 con-
While the vibrant director gives
certs a year in such cities as Ann Arbor,
instructions for music ranging from
Grosse Pointe and Windsor, and have
Russian folk songs to classical American
been seen on cable TV.
tunes, she does so in English, and then
Leslee Magidson, director of the
quickly translates into Russian. Emily
JPM, says that inclusion in the 4-year-
Kayser, 10, explains that is because
old program is offered at no charge. A
Kayser is "the only girl here born in the
grant from the Max M. Fisher
United States." Although the other girls
Foundation for intergenerational pro-
don't speak much English, they do read
gramming helped start the program,
from English word sheets. With parents
whose costs have since been taken on by
from the former Soviet Union, Kayser is
the JCC.
able
to translate words for her fellow
Matusova and the choir's piano
choir
members.
accompanist Liliya Ostapenko are both
Once a year, Magidson explains, "A
are from the Ukraine, where they
special activity is planned to culminate
worked in music schools.
the year." This year the group hopes that
With 30-40 regular members,
with funding from the Russian War
Ostapenko says it is difficult to hold a
Veterans Organization and the JCC,
full rehearsal. "Sometimes transportation
they will be able to take a two-day trip
is a problem," and everyone cannot
to
Toronto. Matusova feels they deserve
attend.
it,
saying, They work very hard."
Matusova has named the choir Vesna,
Magidson says its not just the choir
which means spring, when "we are
that is dedicated. She says of Matusova
always waiting for something new — a
and Ostapenko, "They put so much of
new life, a new mood, when flowers
their life blood into this."
bloom and people change their dreams."
This is something she hopes for in the
lives of the singers.
The Jimmy Prentis Morris
Sonny Lipenholtz, a two-year choir
JCC
Intergenerational Choir
member, joined as one of "only two
Spring Concert will take place 4
Americanskaya" in the group. "This is
p.m. Sunday, May 2, at
my mother-tongue," says Lipenholtz,
Congregation Beth Shalom in
who had Russian-speaking parents.
Oak Park. Admission is $3.
Russian songs are transliterated into
English. Lipenholtz says, "I understand
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