THE L’CHAIM ENSEMBLE—From left to right, Debbi Irvine,Travis Robinson, Andrew Bray, Justin MacLeod, Tina Paradiso, Kristin Chaudhary and Hal Logan.

L'Chaim Ensemble to debut at Havurah Shalom

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2008-11-15T00:00:00

Portland’s new professional singing ensemble, the L’Chaim Ensemble, performs its inaugural concert celebrating the songs of Hanukah at 2 p.m., Nov. 23, at Havurah Shalom, NW 18th Ave.

The L’Chaim Ensemble will be performing traditional Hanukah favorites as well as some contemporary Hanukah pieces. Most of these Hanukah songs have been researched and musically arranged by Debbi Irvine, a founding associate of L’Chaim Ensemble and member of Havurah Shalom.
The concert is a benefit for the Emergency Food Box program of NW Portland Ministries, of which Havurah Shalom is an active member. A percentage of the proceeds from this performance will be donated to the food box program. Concertgoers also can help by bringing non-perishable food items for donation.

Vivace Voices, LTD., parent company of L’Chaim Ensemble is an established professional entertainment company specializing in musical theatre productions in the Pacific Northwest.

Irvine said that Vivace Voices actively lends a helping hand to the community through music. Many of its groups give pro bono performances or benefit concerts such as the one at Havurah Shalom “in addition to paid gigs,” said Irvine.

Irvine also sings in Vivace Voices’ Fireside Carolers group, which sings holiday songs from various religious traditions. While she said Christmas music is beautiful, as a Jew she was eager to perform more Hanukah music and thus helped encourage the company to create a dedicated Hanukah group.

She said the name L’Chaim Ensemble was selected in anticipation of expanding the group’s focus to other aspects of Jewish music.

Irvine said that in researching Hanukah music she was unable to find many selections that were arranged as four-part acapella songs. So she has arranged about 15 of the group’s 18-song repertoire. The ensembles eight singers perform in four parts—soprano, alto, tenor and baritone or bass.

Prior to moving to Portlanfive years ago, Irvine performed in an acappela professional group in San Diego for about five years. Now she occasionally provides music at her synagogue and has performed as a soloist at the annual Jewish Choral Festival organized by Cantor Barbara Slader each spring.

She said most of the singers in the group have music educational backgrounds and have day jobs involving music.

For ticket information, contact Vivace Voices, LTD., at www.vivacevoices.com , or call 971-230-4757. To purchase tickets on-line go to www.pdxtix.net. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 General Admission.