Temple Micah’s choir director/pianist, Dr. Joshua Fishbein, will discuss his award-winning cantata Out of the Ashes of Holocaust, based on his own grandmother’s family’s story of survival during World War II, when they were hidden by a generous Christian family in the mountains of Nazi-occupied Greece. The families coincidentally immigrated to Baltimore in the 1950s separately from one another, reuniting by chance, and remaining lifelong friends.
The Washington Post and People Magazine each published articles about this story in 2022. In his presentation, Dr. Fishbein will outline the historical background, true story, sources for the libretto, and musical structure of his moving 20-minute composition for solo soprano, solo alto, chorus, violin, cello, and piano. The presentation also features video recordings of each movement from the composition’s 2021 online premiere by the Washington Master Chorale.
Dr. Joshua Fishbein joined the Temple Micah staff as Choir Director/Pianist in 2023, following almost two years of serving the congregation as a freelance musician. He brings over 15 years of experience directing synagogue, church, and educational choirs, including seven years directing Kol Rinah at Chizuk Amuno Congregation of Baltimore and five years as Music Director at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Joshua also works as Director of Music and Arts at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville and Adjunct Faculty at The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he instructs music theory, musicianship, and arranging courses.
Previously, Dr. Fishbein taught at The College of New Jersey, Towson University, UMBC, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. His original music has won awards from the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, the Guild of Temple Musicians, and several other organizations. E.C. Schirmer Music Company, Hal Leonard Corporation, Transcontinental Music Publications, and Yelton Rhodes Music publish his compositions. Originally from Baltimore, Joshua relocated to Rockville, Maryland, with his family, after earning graduate degrees in Music from UCLA and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Register before 5 p.m. January 8th for in-person lunch ($10) or by the next evening for the Zoom link.
For more information, please email Lunch and Learn.