Dr. Elayne Robinson Grossman delivers “Annelies” pre-concert talk

We are honored to offer this pre-concert talk given by Dr. Elayne Robinson Grossman. As we prepare for our performance of James Whitbourn’s Annelies, the first major choral-orchestral work based on Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl, we hope Dr. Grossman’s insight and expertise will help bring you to a place of new understanding about why works like these are so important.

For tickets and concert information, visit our Annelies concert details page.

About the Presenter

Elayne Robinson Grossman is recognized for her contribution to the art of Jewish choral music. Dr. Grossman served for 22 years as conductor and musical director of New York City’s Rottenberg Chorale (1977-1999). She has conducted in the United States, Canada, Israel, Great Britain and Italy. She is a renowned lecturer and scholar-in-residence in the music of the Jewish people. Since 2000, she has been the founding Music Director and Conductor of Sharim v’Sharot Foundation, People of Song.

Dr. Grossman brings many facets of her musical experiences to the singers of Sharim v’Sharot. She is in demand as a voice-teacher and vocal coach. She has studied choral arranging with Alice Parker and has subsequently arranged many works for chorus. She is editor and transcriber of Sephardic songs from Yugoslavia, The Flory Jagoda Songbook, TARA Publications. Dr. Grossman taught woodwind instruments at the Abrams Hebrew Academy in Yardley, Pennsylvania, where she was Director of the Instrumental Music Program until her retirement.

Together with her husband, Rabbi Daniel T. Grossman, Dr. Grossman performs Siman Tov, a presentation in Jewish music, culture, prayer, mime and sign language for hearing and hearing impaired audiences. She is co-composer of Help Us Bake a Challah: Songs for Jewish Children (Tara Publications) and is producer, arranger, and performer on the recording which in its upcoming release has been retitled Penny in the Pushka.

The Times wrote after a choral performance: “Dr. Grossman, who has an extensive background in choral conducting, has molded… (her ensemble) into a disciplined, ideally balanced unit. Most impressive was the sheer joy of singing that came across in all the selections on the program.”