Sept 2024 Performance

Sarah  Viviana Lombrozo, Artist

Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations highlights three important women in Jewish history and one contemporary teen representing the current generation as the hope for the future. With the Shekhinah, the feminine aspect of the Divine, the work pays tribute to countless eclectic Jewish women across the ages. The 45-minute composition reflects the modes, harmonies, styles, and instrumental sounds of each era. 

Commission and Grant

When Tifereth Israel Synagogue commissioned Valarie Morris to compose a new work for their 100th Anniversary, she created

Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations. This  work was funded in part by a grant from the Composer Assistance Program of the American Music Center.

Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations

© 2005 Sandscape Publications. All Rights Reserved. BMI.

Composer and Librettist Valarie Morris 

Daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Valarie began playing accordion at age 5 and later played clarinet, piano, sax, and flute. After finding out she was Jewish at 16, she began exploring her Jewishness. In 2005, this exploration led to her diligent research and creation of Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations. 

The Performers

Our ensemble of four vocalists with piano, clarinet, and shofar. delighted the audience. Each vocalist told her captivating story and lively, inspiring vocal quartets honored women's history. 

First Santa Fe Performance

When: Sunday, September 1, 2024

Where: Congregation Beit Tikva, Santa Fe, NM 

Sponsorship and More Information

Sponsorship supported this performance with tax-deductible donations through Congregation Beit Tikva. We appreciate everyone who contributed to Congregation Beit Tikva for the September 1 performance. Thank you for your  support and encouragement for future performances!

Future Performances

Help us share uplifting stories of powerful Jewish women and girls to promote understanding and good will for all and help stop antisemitism! If you're interested in producing or sponsoring future productions of Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations, contact concerts@sandscapepublications.com. You can produce or sponsor a small ensemble or an orchestral performance. Read our basic information about public performances.

Comments or Questions 

Contact valarie@sandscapepublications.com.

Valarie, I so loved your beautiful show. The music, the lyrics, and the singers were all fabulous. Brava to you! So moving. And such a great antidote to antisemitism. I hope it gets seen far and wide. —Margaret Lubalin 

Wow. What a performance. The place was rocking in applause.  The vocalists were incredible. The history enduring. You wrote an epic. Overwhelming. Congratulations! —Kathamann

I was excited and impressed with Voices of Shekhinah: Four Illuminations. The voices were beyond operatic, full of so much emotion and feeling. With the costumes and lyrics reflecting the period of each woman's life, I learned more about the historic aspects of Judaism through this wonderful, intimate performance. —Faith Garfield

Hi Valarie! Congratulations again. You are incredibly talented and your presentation was so inspiring. I hope you can raise money to take it further. —Jacalyn Kane

Lina Ramos as Sarah

Lina Ramos, a native New Mexican, is an opera singer, performer, arts educator, director, and conductor. Ms. Ramos performs all genres of music and recently performed Doña Rosa with Opera Southwest in Il Postino, Saraghina in Musical Theatre Southwest’s concert version of the musical Nine, and for Beit Tikva and other groups. She teaches at Sessions Music Academy in Albuquerque.

Jennifer Perez as Beruriah

Jennifer Perez, a member of the New Mexico Performing Arts Society, has performed with Santa Fe Desert Chorale, New Mexico Philharmonic, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Dallas Choral Festival, and Boulder Bach Festival. Her passion is for oratorio, vocal chamber music, and choral works.

Haley Tarrant as Lila

Currently singing with The Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera, Haley Tarrant was selected in 2022 to perform with Honor Choir USA in Honolulu as a high school sophomore. She has also performed with New Mexico Music Educator’s All-State Choirs and their Honor Choirs.

Director Alicia Solomon as Gracia

As a director, Alicia Solomon and her production company Opera Alta brought performances of opera and musical theater to audiences across northern New Mexico for 10 years. As a performer, Ms. Solomon has appeared repeatedly with the Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and Santa Fe Desert Chorale. She maintains a private studio in Santa Fe.

Natasha Stojanovska. Macedonian pianist and composer Natasha Stojanovska has performed solo and chamber music in France, Portugal, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, South Korea, Haiti, and the U.S. During her eclectic career, she has worked with Metropolitan Opera Star Renee Fleming and jazz vocalist Patricia Barber. As The Stojanovska Sisters, a piano duo, she and her sister Marina have performed for 25 years in the U.S. and Europe. Currently on staff at UNM in Albuquerque, Ms. Stojanovska continues to maintain her stellar performance career.

Lori Lovato. A graduate of Northwestern University and UNM, Lori is clarinetist for the Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, San Juan Symphony, and Opera Southwest Orchestra. She has also appeared with Albuquerque Chamber Soloists, Music at Angel Fire, Chamber Music Albuquerque, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and Santa Fe New Music.

Thank You To Our Fabulous Performers 

and 

Thank You To Our Wonderful Audience and Supporters!