Klezmorim kick off cultural series

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — The West End Klezmorim will kick off Sullivan County Community College’s summer cultural series with performances at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 at the college.

The group is led by clarinet player Harold Seletsky—dubbed “The Prez of Klez.” Classically trained, he played in the Houston Symphony under conductor Leopold Stokowski, has composed film music and even gigged in the Catskills Borscht Belt. Singer Richie Chiger, who has been singing Klezmer music since he was a boy in Brooklyn and toured the country as a soloist from the age of ten, is a Monticello resident.

Klezmer (the word comes from the Hebrew words for “instrument” and “music”) has its roots in the Jewish villages of Eastern Europe. Traditional Klezmer instruments include clarinet, violin, flute and accordion. Modern Klezmer sound is likely to include influences not only of its Eastern European roots, but gypsy melodies, jazz and folk music of other lands.

The second event in the college’s cultural series will be a presentation of the longest-running show in American theater history, “The Fantasticks,” by Big Sky Productions, from Thursday, July 21 through Sunday, July 24.

Tickets are $18 per show for general admission, and $15 for seniors 65 and over, students, and college staff.

For more information call 845/434-5750, ext. 4303.