Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus Milestones
The Freiheit Gezang Farein, 1923
1923. The Freiheit Gezang Farein (FGF) was founded by conductor/composer Lazar Weiner on New York’s Lower East Side
1924. FGF gave its first concert on February 23 in Carnegie Hall, New York City
1925. The Jewish Workers Music Alliance (Der yidish-muzikalisher arbeter-farband) was founded as a funding organization for Yiddish choruses
1926. FGF, conducted by Weiner, debuted Jacob Schaefer’s oratorio Tsvey Brider on February 20 in Mecca Temple, New York City – the first Yiddish chorus concert with an orchestra
1926–36. Jacob Schaefer conducted the FGF, at times a 300-singer chorus
1920s. A total of 30 choruses of the International Workers Order / IWO (“ordn-khorn”) formed throughout New York City and other cities throughout the country
1932. Jacob Schaefer compiled and arranged “Mit gezang tsum kamf - Songs for Voice and Piano,” first in a series initially published by the International Workers Order
1934. Jacob Schaefer compiled and edited “Gezang un kamf,” second in the series, with a new name and published by Der yidisher muzikalisher arbeter-farband / IMAF
1935–40. Jacob Schaefer and Max Helfman compiled and edited “Gezang un kamf,” issues 3 through 8, with one published each year – Schaefer edited through 1936; Helfman from 1938 through 1940; and a collaboration between them for the 1937 issue
1936. Schaefer passed away suddenly at age forty-eight
1936–48. Max Helfman conducted FGF
1937. The Jewish Workers Music Alliance changed its name to the Jewish Music Alliance (Der yidisher muzik-farband)
1938. Freiheit newspaper editor Moyshe Olgin, a force in the creation and continuation of the FGF, passed away
1948. FGF changed its name to the Jewish People’s Philharmonic Chorus (JPPC)
1948. JPPC performed its final concert conducted by Max Helfman on June 13 at Carnegie Hall, New York City
1948–52. Dr. Leon Kopf, a German refugee, conducted JPPC and created the Chorus’s first recording
1952–60. Eugene (Yehuda) Malek conducted JPPC
1953. The first annual concert of the Jewish Cultural Clubs and Societies featured the sister chorus of the JPPC, the Jewish People’s Chorus of New York (JPCNY) conducted by Maurice Rauch
The Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus (JPPC), 1964
1958–59. JPCNY made two recordings – A Goldfaden Collection, and the folk-operetta adapted from Sholom Aleichem stories, Sholem Aleichem Dir, Amerike! (libretto: Martin Birnbaum, music: Maurice Rauch)
1960–71. JPCNY merged with JPPC and Maurice Rauch became conductor of the combined group, called JPPC. With Rauch, JPPC recorded Schaefer’s Tsvey Brider (1967)
1971–72. Oscar Julius conducted JPPC
1972–78. Maurice Rauch returned to conduct JPPC
1978–80. Franco Rossi conducted JPPC
1980. Rauch conducted one JPPC concert
1980–84. Madeline Simon conducted JPPC – its first female conductor
1984–95. Peter Schlosser conducted JPPC
1985. The Jewish Music Alliance merged with the Zhitlowsky Foundation
1995. Di Goldene Keyt (The Golden Chain), Ltd. was founded as a nonprofit to promote the creation and high-quality performance of Yiddish choral music
1995. Binyumen Schaechter began conducting JPPC
1998. JPPC began year-round Outreach Concerts throughout the New York tri-state area, from Town Hall to the Museum of Jewish Heritage
2000. JPPC first appeared as a featured chorus at the annual North American Jewish Choral Festival
2000. Performed at World Trade Center Plaza in New York City – the only Yiddish chorus ever to appear there
2001. Sang for a Chanukah memorial ceremony at the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks
2001. Held auditions for the first time in the Chorus’s history
2002, 2005, 2006. Performed at the New York International Choral Festival at Alice Tully Hall (NY) – the only Jewish chorus ever represented
2003. Celebrated 80 years of preserving, creating, and sharing Yiddish song, becoming the world’s longest-functioning Jewish chorus
2005. Performed at Shea Stadium (NY, now Citi Field) for the NY Mets’ Jewish Heritage Day – the only Yiddish chorus ever to appear there
2006. Released a CD, Zingt! A Celebration of Yiddish Choral Music – its first recording in 39 years
2007. Recorded its first live-in-concert DVD, released in 2009
2007. Was filmed and recorded for the 2009 feature film Tickling Leo
2008. Performed at West Point Military Academy (NY) – the first Yiddish chorus ever to appear there
2008. Performed its annual gala spring concert at Symphony Space (NY) for the first time
2010. Performed at Riverside Church (NY) – the only Jewish chorus in the 5th New York International Choral Festival
2013. Performed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (NY), the fourth-largest church in the world, commemorating 70 years since the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
2014. Posted its first videos on YouTube
2016. Performed its annual gala spring concert at Merkin Hall (NY) for the first time
2018. Performed its first concerts with English supertitles throughout
2020–2021. No rehearsals or performances between March 2020 and August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021. JPPC changed its name to The Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus (TYPC)
2021. TYPC recorded and posted on YouTube its first virtual choir recording
2022. Performed its first post-pandemic concerts, celebrating its 100th season
CONCERT THEMES
2014. Amerike di prekhtike (America the Beautiful) – celebrating 360 years since the first Jews arrived in North America
2015. From Paris to Peretz: A Musical Tour
2016. To Life, To Laugh, Lekhayim – celebrating Sholem Aleichem on the centennial of his death
2017. Yiddish and British on Broadway
2018. To Everything There Is a Season – the Jewish calendar in music
2019. Yiddish Flavors of Love
2022. From Babies to Bubbies: A Lifetime in Yiddish Song
2023. Chutzpah! Yiddish Songs of Defiance
2024. From Varshe and Vilne to Vashington Heights – on Jewish immigration
2025. FROYEN! Women in Yiddish Song