The world is a stage ... and life is a song!

Internationally acclaimed performers and vocalists Maya Pennington and Karen Goldfeder share their talent and expertise with these unique, Koolulam-inspired vocal workshops. Adults, seniors, teens, tweens … everyone is welcome!

What is Koolulam: Koolulam—like Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir!—is a social-musical initiative aimed at bringing together people from all corners of the diverse, multi-cultural Israeli society. The idea is to stop everything for a bit and just sing – together.

For a 'taste' of Koolulam, Choir!Choir!Choir! and Maya Pennington in action, check these links below:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQhj_aKQkBY&vl=en - Koolulam video of "Believer" by Imagine Dragons
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBM6a3Gzh0 - Koolulam video of "Revolution of Joy" in the Jezreel Valley
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqvKDCP5-xE - Koolulam video of "One Day" by Matisyahu
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxzR9Z-kG6Q  - Koolulam video of "Al Kol Eleh" from Israel's 70th Independence Day celebration
  
  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGRfJ6-qkr4 - Choir! Choir! Choir! video of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" with Rufus Wainwright
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQebMHpE2nI - Choir! Choir! Choir! video of Weezer's "Holiday"

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwF0W6C-jw0 - Choir! Choir! Choir! video of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BDAFT9IuxI - Maya Pennington performing "Peacocks Rap"

Maya Pennington
Native Jerusalemite; globetrotter; studied notes before letters; Majored in baroque flute, singing, biology and English in high school - and later, in vocal jazz and multi-disciplinary composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music; toured the world with the international a capella group "The Voca People" for four years; devout genre-hopper.

Currently teaches in the Jerusalem "Hasadna" conservatory and heads several eclectic projects (a comedic musical duo called "Guy & Doll"; a multi-instrumental duo called "Two Girlz Cookin", centered around unexpected mash-ups; a solo act called "Maya Pennington & the HIVE" focused on familiar songs arranged artistically).

Maya studied Yiddish and taught music at the Intensive Summer Program at Vilnius University for the two years iand is co-producing an artistic documentary film about her relationship with Lithuania and her mamme-loshen.

Maya is very excited to return to Toronto for the second time after having had such a meaningful and moving experience during the high holidays at Beth Tzedec last year. 
She looks forward to creating a special and beautiful experience together with any and all community members who will be part of this year’s special vocal workshop.

Karen Goldfeder
Karen is a mezzo soprano, loves performing music of all kinds, and her career to date encompasses opera, jazz, folk, oratorio, minimalist, pre-baroque, South Indian, musical theatre, and R&B.  She has performed, toured and recorded with many professional choral ensembles including New York Virtuoso Singers, Voices of Ascension, New York Treble Singers, the Bard Festival Chorale, and the Gregg Smith Singers. 

Her contemporary opera credits include John Adam’s Death of Kinghoffer and Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiell . Solo appearances include the Monteverdi Vespers of 16010, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, the Stravinsky Mass, and the Pergolesi Stabat Mater. 

Karen's compositions and arrangements have been performed by the New York Treble Singers, C4, the Marble Collegiate Church Sanctuary Choir, the Choir of St. Francis of Assisi, The Great Neck Choral Society, Kiitos: a vocal quartet, The Gregg Smith Singers, and The Todd Reynolds String Quartet. 

Her jazz resume includes appearances with Abbey Lincoln, Julian Priester, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jay Clayton, Jeff Watts, Benny Green, Frank London, Dave Fiuczynski's Screaming Headless Torsos and Bobby McFerrin -- with whom Karen also works as a member of the teaching team for the vocal improvisation method called Circlesongs.