Zemer Chai, whose name means "living song," is a choir of 30 singers dedicated to sharing the rich heritage of the Jewish people through its music and poetry. D.C.'s premier Jewish choir, Zemer Chai was praised by the Washington Post as "singing passionately with utter precision." Founded by conducted Eleanor Epstein in 1976, Zemer Chai sings the full range of the Jewish choral repertoire, including liturgical and classical pieces, Jewish folk music from around the world, and new works commissioned by noted composers. The singers, who range in age and come from all walks of Jewish life, find common ground in their love of the music and in their commitment to sharing it at the highest possible level. Respected for its moving interpretations and skillful performance, the choir has appeared at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, Strathmore Hall, the Library of Congress and in concert halls in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. An integral part of the greater Washington community, Zemer Chai takes pride in building bridges to the wider community, attracting audience members of many cultures to its concerts, and participating in numerous intercultural and interfaith events.
