Bay Area choirs to sing for Darfur relief

Several choirs from synagogues and Jewish community groups around the Bay Area will come together for Zimriyah, a Bay Area Jewish Choral Festival, with proceeds earmarked for relief efforts in Darfur.

The various choral groups will share music and combine as a unified chorus conducted by San Francisco Congregation Emanu-El Cantor Roslyn Barak.

The event takes place 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30 in the main sanctuary of Emanu-El. Participating synagogues include B’nai Shalom and B’nai Tikvah of Walnut Creek, Emanu-El and Sherith Israel of S.F., Shir Hadash of Los Gatos and Rodef Sholom of San Rafael. The community choirs are Peninsula-based HaShirim and the Jewish Folk Chorus of the East Bay.

There is no admission charge, but tzedakah will be collected for Darfur. Proceeds will be donated to the American Jewish World Service.

Coffeehouse hosts Jewish music

The Bay Area-based L’Chaim Klezmer Band will kick off a Jewish music series at Crosstown Coffee House and Community Center in Alameda at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

Jewish music will be featured periodically at the new interfaith, nonprofit venue.

The next such concert will feature Judith-Kate Friedman on Saturday, Sept. 16.

Crosstown is at 1303 High St., Alameda.

For information, call (510) 464-4677 or email [email protected].

‘Fiddler’ auditions

Vallejo Music Theatre will hold auditions for an upcoming production of the Broadway classic “Fiddler on the Roof.” As usual, the theater’s policy of nontraditional casting remains in place. Children as young as 6 may audition, and many children and teens are expected to be cast in lead roles and in the chorus.

Auditioners are asked to prepare a musical number not from the show, bring sheet music, tape or CD and wear comfortable clothing for dance auditions. The show opens July 14 and runs four weekends through Aug. 5.

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, May 1 and 2 at the Fetterly Playhouse for the Arts, 3467 Sonoma Blvd., Suite 10, Vallejo. For information, call (707) 649-2787.