The Zemel Choir, established by Dudley Cohen in 1955, is proud of its international reputation as one of the world’s finest mixed voice Jewish choirs. Our wide ranging repertoire embraces all the traditional Jewish cultures, Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Yiddish and Israeli. We regularly perform in major venues throughout the U.K. and overseas, and besides singing well known favourites, are particularly proud to present new music, often specially commissioned, from contemporary composers.

In November 2005 the Choir celebrated its Golden Anniversary with a concert at St John’s, Smith Square.

 TV and Radio appearances include the 1986 live television and radio broadcast of Kaddish at Terezin from Canterbury Cathedral, the Expressions of Reconciliation and Hope service in York Minster in 1990, the special edition of Radio 4’s Sunday Worship in January 2001, when we were chosen to represent the British Jewish community as part of the Holocaust Day commemoration and most recently in January 2005 participating in BBC1’s Songs of Praise, The Holocaust Remembered.

 Over the years we have made many recordings, the most recent of which is our newly completed CD – Celebrate With Song - conducted by Benjamin Wolf.

 We have travelled extensively to the U.S.A., Canada, Israel, and Eastern and Western Europe, and in 1993 participated in the Polish Holocaust Memorial ceremonies in Warsaw and Treblinka to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. At the 1996 Zimriyah Choral Festival in Jerusalem we were invited to sing at the opening ceremony concert which was broadcast live on Israel Radio, and In October 2001 we toured The Czech Republic and Hungary. Our latest overseas trip was in April  2007 when we made a most successful tour of Belgium, France and Luxembourg.

In November 2008 we have a major concert - Entente Cordiale - where we share the platform with the Polyphonies Hebraiques de Strasbourg, and   firm arrangements exist for our tour of Israel in March 2009. Outline plans are also in place for a tour of the Eastern Coast of the USA in 2010.

The Choir has maintained its reputation as a result of professional musical direction, and a strong commitment to rehearsals by its members. We come together not only to sing, but to be part of a warm and friendly social group. We are always happy to welcome new members, especially altos and tenors.

Find out more about us BY PHONING our Membership Secretary,
Doreen Havardi on 020-8868 8423.