Raya Gonen
Soprano: Holocaust education through song and verse
Background:
Soprano Raya Gonen is a classically trained professional singer specializing in opera, operetta, art song recital and orchestral repertoire. She graduated from the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv Israel, and of Westminster Choir College, Princeton NJ with a Masters Degree in Music (Vocal Pedagogy). She is currently a member of the music faculties of Muhlenberg College, PA and Monmouth University, NJ.
Ms. Gonen has had an extensive performing career and sang in some of the world’s finest venues such as Carnegie Hall, Cardiff Wales UK, The Israeli Philharmonic and The New Israeli opera among others. She performed under the batons of such conductors as Zubin Mehta, Roger Norrington, Asher Fisch, and David Robertson.
Singing for Survival: “From Holocaust to Hope” is a musical educational program about the Holocaust, developed by noted soprano Raya Gonen, a daughter of two Holocaust survivors.
Ms. Gonen has collected many beautiful songs that were written by composers who lived in the ghettos and concentration camps during World War II, many of whom perished in the Holocaust. A narration provides well-written educational information about the songs and the composers. A pianist accompanies Ms. Gonen as she sings.
Ms. Gonen performed this program in various venues over the past eighteen years including the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, recorded live in commemoration of Holocaust Day. In addition, the concert was performed at The Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., Rutgers University NJ, Stockton College NJ and the Main Line Reform Temple in Wynwood PA with two narrators from WPVI channel 6 ABC Action News.
Other performances were presented at The Jewish Community centers in San Diego and Los Angeles with tenor Howard Fried, (San Francisco Opera), at Temple M'kor Shalom in Cherry Hill,NJ, ,at Monmouth University, Long Branch,NJ, as a part of the History Department Holocaust studies program,at Muhlenberg College ,Allentown, Pa, and most recently, at the NY chapter af ADL((The Hidden Child Foundation) on April 12th, 2010,for the commemoration of the Holocaust Day.
Main Focus:
This program's goal is to provide insight and understanding about the Holocaust through the medium of music.
As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, Ms. Gonen found this repertoire meaningful to her not only on its musical merit, but most importantly, as the human soul’s triumph over the forces of evil.
Offerings:
1. A performance/narration of “Singing for Survival: From Holocaust to Hope” (Approximately 1 hour long)
• Can be tailored to the specific needs of the hiring organization.
• Appropriate for the commemoration of “Kristal Nacht” and Holocaust Day, as well as for Holocaust education purposes.
For more details and to hear excerpts of the programs, please visit my website, www.rayagonen.com, under “Programs.”
2. A concert featuring songs of diverse Israeli and Jewish ethnic groups, which includes two separate programs:
• “Vocal Jewels from Israel” (Featured on Centaur Records)
• “Sephardic Songs” (Sung in Ladino)
For details of these programs, please visit my website, www.rayagonen.com, under “Programs.”
Publications and Awards:
• Israeli Broadcasting Authority Representative to the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition
• Winner, Edis de Philip Award (Israeli National Opera), presented by Placido Domingo
• Recipient, America-Israel Cultural Foundation Grant Finalist, Opera Guild of Southern California Competition
• Member of Strathmore’s “Who’s Who” publication
Member of NATS(national association of teachers of singing)
Availability:
Year-round
Fee:
Negotiable
Contact:
www.rayagonen.com
Raya1050@comcast.net
