Past Events

“Boogie to Broadway” friend raiser is a hit

More than 600 people packed the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre on Sunday night, June 14 for, “Raise Your Voice for JFS - Boogie to Broadway” as part of the agency’s first ever friend-raiser. The evening raised more than $6,000 to help support the agencies programs.

“Boogie to Broadway” featured performances of three intergenerational all-volunteer choirs, conducted by five area musical directors and cantors, in a clash of the choirs’ competition. It was the Jewish community’s answer to the popular “American Idol”. Each choir sang three songs and joined together for the finale, a song specially written for JFS by Linda Matorin Sweenie, music director at Congregation Beth Torah. Audience members selected the winning choir by casting votes of $1 each; more than 5,000 votes were cast during the evening and in pre-event online voting. At the end of the evening, the Orange Choir, led by Linda Sweenie, was declared the winning music group in the friendly competition.

During the evening, each choir shared information about JFS programs and services. Audience members were also winners as random raffle prizes were given away.

In addition to Sweenie, the choir directors included Patrick Buckley (Congregation Kol Ami), Cantor Sharon Kohn (Congregation B’nai Jehudah), Hazzan Robert Menes (Congregation Beth Shalom) and Rabbi/Cantor Jeffrey Shron (Kehilath Israel Synagogue).

Join us next June for Round 2 of “Boogie to Broadway”!