A Personal History Of The Zemel Choir

A detailed personal history of the Zemel Choir has been compiled by the Choir’s most experienced Tenor, Peter Pollak.

Peter, who has been a member of the Zemel Choir for over 30 years and held the position of the Zemel Choir’s Concert Manager for over 10 years,  has maintained a written archive of the Choir’s activities throughout this period.

My active association with the Choir dates back to 1972. I missed the 75/76 season when I sang with the Dudley Cohen Singers, and also parts of the 85/87 seasons whilst living and working in Birmingham (and singing in the Zimriyah Choir), yet still occasionally commuting to rehearsals in Hendon-and even ‘lining up’ for concerts in London and Canterbury (Kaddish at Terezin, June ’86).

Only 4 current members of the Choir-Viv Beber (who first joined in 1959), Ruth Banin, Linda Chainey and Linda Brody-joined before 1972, whilst Robert Brody’s connections date back to the early 1960’s-by 1965 Robert had become Zemel’s principal soloist and resident cantor (in those days he also played an accordian in concerts). Other (present) members with lengthy careers are Rusty Davis, Blanche Eckman, Doreen Havardi, Geraldine Luder, Michael Morris, Philip Roth, Shirley Lishak, Danny Tunkel and Chaggai Weissler; all of them sang in the 1986 Choir for the 30th Anniversary Reunion Concert at West London Synagogue, Upper Berkeley Street, conducted by Malcolm Singer.

First, some facts and figures:

Ben Wolf, the Choir’s 8th Musical Director, was appointed in January 2003. Previous Directors were the founder Dudley Cohen(1955-75); Geoffrey Simon (September 75 to July 78); Antony Saunders (September 78-January 83); Malcolm Singer (March 83-July 93 and now one of our Patrons); Maureen Creese (Acting Director, September 93 - July 94); Robert Max (September 94 - July 98); Viv Bellos (Jan 99-December 02). Ben then took over.  Zemel’s 5 Assistant Directors-Michael Oppenheimer(1955-56); Victor Tunkel(1956-66); Gerald Knepler (1966-73); Gerald Kingsley (1973-79); and for a remarkable 30 years, Maureen Creese- Maureen was Zemel’s accompanist from 1976.

There have been 6 Concert Managers: Martyn Davis (1955-61); David H Cohen (1961-65); Sid Eckman(1965-90); Peter Pollak (1990-2000), David Craig/Mark Lansman(2000-01); Gary Tucker (now also Janet Rose) from 2001.

The Chairman’s position has been occupied by 14 people (4 of whom have served 2 terms), each term averaging 3 years. Meanwhile Linda Brody (treasurer) and Doreen Havardi (membership) have, I believe, achieved the longest continuous periods on committee.

I have kept archive data of all the Choir’s 13 commercial recordings (vinyl, cassette, CD) 4 Videos (York, 1990;  Poland and Russia, 1993;  Brussels/Strasbourg/Luxembourg, 2007; BBC Songs of Praise, 2005) and between 1977 and 2001, no less than 31 (private) cassette recordings of our concerts in the UK and abroad.

There have been 13 TV and Radio performances between 1965 and 2005. The Choir has toured Israel 8 times, given 8 concerts in Western Europe on 2 tours, (in 1984 and 2007), and 3 in Eastern Europe during the Holocaust Commemoration visit of 1993. There have been 2 tours to the USA and Canada in 1981 and 1987. Domestic concerts (in the UK) have included 6 visits to Llangollen between 1960 and 1984 (twice in my time) for the International Eisteddfod, and numerous memorable visits to the provinces from the 1970’s onwards around the south, south east, midlands and north of England, and one to Cardiff.

I have also kelp track of the membership numbers-up to about 1967 there were over 90 voices in the Choir, but that figure fell to around 60 by 1969. By 1978 under Geoffrey Simon the membership had risen to 65, but 3 years later had dropped to 55. During the 90’s the figure fluctuated between the mid 50’s and low 60’s, falling still further to under 40 by 2002. Under Ben, the Choir has been growing - currently we have 52 members -19 Sopranos, 14 Altos, 8 Tenors and 11 Basses.

Over the past 37 years, I have been conscious of the changing fashions and emphases in repertoire and musical styles we perform, reflecting Hebrew (Ashkenazi and Sephardi), Liturgical, Folk, Pop, Renaissance and Antiqua, Yiddish and Israeli Works, as well as several larger scale compositions with orchestral or instrumental support- ie Bloch’s ‘Sacred Service’; Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ (for the seventh time); Copland’s ‘In the Beginning’; Castelnuovo-Tedesco ‘Sacred Service’; Senators ‘Kaddish for Terezin’; Cormac O’Duffy, ‘Hear O Israel’;  Braun, ‘The Night of No-Amon’; Neil Levin, ‘Vanished Voices’,  Alman, ‘King Ahaz’.

Our conductors have endeavoured to pursue fully these different goals (even two demanding Bach Motets) while the members have to invariably rise to the challenges they set and the demands of the music itself.  Having kept track of the choir’s “first performances” from 1977, I have listed well over 200, and the number continues to grow, year by year.     

Zemel’s first rehearsal “home” was Hendon Synagogue at Raleigh Close, from June 1955 to July 1991.  For the past 18 seasons the choir has rehearsed at Finchley (Kinloss), Golders Green, Pinner, Hendon (Reform), and since september 2007 at Southgate and District Reform (Whetstone), as well as using Harrow Arts Centre for some Sunday rehearsals. 

Finally, the name ‘Zemel’ : whereas Dudley had formed a successful youth choir by this name in NW london in 1948, by 1955 he established ZML, standing for Tsaphon Ma’arav London, the Zemel choral society, an adult choir – renamed the Zemel Choir in December 1961. 

In its 17th season, in her Jewish Chronicle article, writer Pamela Melnikoff characterised the choir as “more intimate than many other choral ensembles”, the music performed as “more varied and fascinating”.  “While other choirs are far more disciplined, Zemel is like a bunch of individuals who cohere terribly well…. There is a verve and vitality in Zemel that you don’t find in other choirs”.  (Her words were written 37 years ago, and I admit to still sensing that freshness, interest and excitement on Monday nights).

The article referred to the commitment and dedication of individual choristers, the social camaraderie within the choir, half a dozen marriages have taken place within Zemel.  People spoke of their enjoyment - comments like “it is refreshing to switch to being a pupil on rehearsal night”, “after a hard day at work, music makes me forget all my troubles”.

Eight years later, at Zemel’s Silver Jubilee Renunion, Sid Eckman wrote “On behalf of the Choir, may I express my profound thanks to all those who have sung, helped and supported us these past 25 years.  During this time the choir has travelled extensively, bringing pleasure to many thousands of  people, and by doing so has proudly served the Jewish community… some 1000 people have given over 400 public appearances, helping fund-raising committees collect over £250,000 through promoted gala concerts… we are mindful of the devotion and dedication given by Dudley Cohen… having had the vision, imagination and energy that drove the Choir to achieve the very highest standards of choral peformance”.  (I should add, further, about Sid, having inherited his position in1990, that he was unquestionably the key motivator and organiser, the resourceful and tireless ‘fixer’, admired within the Zemel family and beyond, for his unparalleled  accomplishments during his 25 years at the helm).

Since 1980 many landmarks and milestones have come and gone, new generations of singers and leaders have arrived and departed, with each director imprinting his/her musical ideas, conducting skills and styles, and new repertoire upon the Choir.  Special events, wonderful collaborations with musical professionals, impressive and awsome concert venues, a commitment to the intensity of  recording sessions, experiencing the joy and approval of audiences, our nearest and dearest, and the comments of critics - all these are the stuff of the wider and deeper Zemel experience… so hard to give it up, so hard to define! 

To conclude, a number of lasting (and emotional) personal memories, drawn at random… moments of passion, pathos and pleasure that recall episodes and events going back over 32 years. 

January 1977, QEH,  My first of many memorable concerts here, this one to a full house and enthusiastic reception.  The Jules Ruben Trio led Zemel into the finale.  Urged on by Geoff Simon, the Choir produced a sparkling performance of pop song standards. 

May 1981, Great Synagogue Montreal     Yom Ha’atzmaut – Antony Saunders inspired Zemel to an emotional performance in this huge setting – Asher Clayton last sang with the Choir.  We concluded this tour spending two unforgettable nights at the old Concorde Hotel (New York Catskills) as guests of a Cantor’s convention. 

December 1981  Antony Saunders storms out of a Baker Street recording studio, into a blizzard: we were singing so badly! 

March 1990,  York Minster…  Consuming Kosher food provisions in the crypt of this Anglican cathedral (Clifford’s Tower commemoration 1190 – 1990), and getting engaged!

April 1993, Treblinka Poland.  Moments of prayer and introspection ‘Enosh Kechatsir’, ‘Zog Mit Keynmol’: Treblinka, the site of the Nazi slaughter of our brethren in the Holocaust, 50 years ago.

April 1993, On a train from Warsaw to Vilnius (Lithuania): A Russian train with poor ‘facilities’ proved a memorable journey.  (Malcom Singer’s final season)

March 1994, Westminster Abbey,  Commonwealth Day Observance.  A proud occasion for the choir, broadcast on BBC World Service: afterwards Maureen Creese, our conductor, was presented to the H.M. The Queen and Prince Charles. (The Prince also spoke to me).

July 1995 (and July 1997) University College School Hampstead   - The Robert Max recording marathons… several days, many hours.  I recall that aeroplanes flew overhead and interrupted us!

November 1995, St Paul’s Cathedral.  Performing Bloch Sacred Service (a B’nai B’rith venture under Lord Menuhin.  Was Prince Philip actually awake or asleep during the concert?

January 2001, St Jude’s Hampstead,  Sunday Worship Radio 4.  Viv Bellos straining to get our best performance for this live broadcast on a very early Sunday morning.

February 2006, St Paul’s Church, New Southgate.   The Chonon Lewis recording, Ben Wolf conducting… a rather cold and bitter Sunday.  (Two years later, February/March 2008, on three successive Sundays at the JFS Theatre we recorded 20 tracks for a new CD ‘Celebrate With Song’, released in June, again Ben directing (and featuring 5 soloists).

March 2009 Netanya, Israel.  A cliff top near the King Solomon Hotel, a photo shoot, somewhat disorganised, on the Choir’s final day of the (Stanley Davis) tour.

Selecting these few snapshot memories has meant leaving out countless others that brought tears and laughter, sadness and joy, pride and disappointment… My 37 years with Zemel have indeed been an amazing journey, recorded more fully in the different sections of our web-site and in ‘The Zemel Choir History’, a continuing biography.

Peter Pollak                                                                                                                         May 2009

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