The end of the school year provides a natural opportunity to reflect on the musical life of the synagogue during the past year and to look forward to next year.

This past year, the adult choir provided the majestic music of the High Holidays with grace and beauty, the joyful music of the b'nai mitzvah services with verve, and the varied music of both the Washington Area Interfaith Concert, held at the National Cathedral, and the Washington Area Jewish Choral Festival, under the direction of maestro Ben Steinberg. The choir is looking forward to another year of liturgical and concert music. Be sure to attend next year's Choral Festival, to be held on March 5, 2007.

As noted last month, this has been a banner year for the Temple Micah Youth Choir, comprised of students in grades two through four. We have brought the light of youthful joy to the Kabbalat Shabbat service on the first Friday of each month, as well as to the larger community at the 15th annual Washington Area Jewish Youth Choir Festival. The Youth Choir adds so much to the musical life of Micah. Each time the group sings, a festive family dinner is enjoyed by all the singers and their families after the service.

I am proud to announce that next year our choral activities will be expanding for the young people of our community. The Youth Choir will consist of all students in grades two through five and will continue to meet during religious school and sing on the first Friday of the month. Students in grades six and seven will be singing in an exciting new group that will meet on Tuesday afternoons before mid-week school. And (as if this isn't already an amazing amount of choral music), I am thrilled that we are forming an intergenerational choir, consisting of singers of all ages, as part of the religious school curriculum. Next year promises to be a breakout year for choral singing at Temple Micah.

The instrumental music program at Micah has also grown this past year. This was the first full year that the Temple Micah Mini Pickup Band (Liz Poliner, flute; David Wentworth, clarinet; David Adler, violin, and Dale Hailey, percussion) accompanied the Friday evening service once a month. Next year, look for this dedicated group of instrumentalists on the third Friday of each month. They add a richness to the service that is appreciated by all. All of the above-mentioned musicians were joined this past February by the famous Temple Micah Pickup Orchestra for the highlight of our musical year: the annual Shabbat Shira service. At Micah, this service has become a tradition without peer. Mark your calendars now for Feb. 3, 2007--the next Shabbat Shira service.

This has truly been a wonderful year of making music at Temple Micah. I look forward to another year of rewarding and meaningful music.