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SHIRONA - Bio
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When Shirona was five years old the family moved back to Israel, along with two younger siblings – Benny and Danny. They settled in Ramat Hasharon, just north of Tel Aviv. Growing up in Israel was great. Kids had lots of freedom – spending most of their free time in the sunny outdoors. There were no telephones (yet), no TV, no Malls and no “play dates”, and there was nothing to be afraid of. Things were good. There was a strong sense of community, and a strong sense of national identity – and great pride in the amazing accomplishments of the young state of Israel. Although “secular” from a religious standpoint – there was no ambiguity about being Jewish AND Israeli – with a sense of having a “special place” in the world. At 16 Shirona bought her first guitar and taught herself how to play using a Beatles songbook with chords. With no formal training – singing and playing came naturally, but shyness and terrible stage fright were a constant challenge to performing. Also being a very talented artist – Shirona chose to focus on ART, and enrolled in the prestigious High School of Music and Art in Tel Aviv, as an art student. Music and singing remained a hobby… Shirona moved back to the United States and her native city New York as a young adult. Independent and on her own - she supported herself as a free lance graphic designer and later attended SUNY Purchase, earning a BFA in Fine Art. It was in the very last semester before graduation, that quite by chance she registered for a “voice workshop” – a decision that ultimately changed her life… Well into her 20’s and pursuing a career in Art – Shirona found out for the first time that she had “a voice”, and a new passion began to take hold. The great Jazz singers - Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday – and the contemporary singers Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt were an endless source of material and inspiration. Facing the demons of self-consciousness and stage fright and determined to conquer them – Shirona began to perform in small venues. Several months after graduation she heard that an Israeli singer who’s name she remembered from Israel – Danny Maseng, was looking for a female singer for the musical review he was producing and starring in – “On Silver Wings”. She auditioned and got the part, and for the next six months experienced a kind of musical “boot-camp” – studying and rehearsing with Danny Maseng for the show that was about to tour the country. Danny was an artist of high standards – demanding…a perfectionist. Training for the show was a tremendous, invaluable experience, and starring in the musical review was a kind of “sneak-preview” into her musical future…performing material in English and Hebrew – to Jewish communities throughout the USA… Shortly after returning from the “On Silver Wings” tour Shirona got married and became a mother…Lianne was borne in 1982, and Leora in 1992. Fast forward to 1997. Shirona and her husband join Temple Israel Center in White Plains NY. Having been raised “secular” in Israel – going to a synagogue regularly on Shabbat was a new experience, and a profound one. The Rabbi was Gordon Tucker and the Cantor – Jack Mendelson, both outstanding and prominent in their fields. Immediately Shirona began to get involved in the rich musical environment at TIC, and with the encouragement of congregants and the Cantor she began participating in services including reading the Torah. She also began teaching at the Hebrew School – first Hebrew, later becoming Music teacher. At this time Shirona was still pursuing a career as an artist, and had her own studio in Port Chester NY – but she heard another “calling”… In her art studio she started composing music - melodies to prayers from the Siddur and Biblical texts. When it became clear that this was her real path in life, she closed her studio and went on to produce a full length CD, titled “Judaic Love Songs”. Shirona’s music was received enthusiastically – with a five star review from The Jewish Week, and a lot of interest from fans, publishers and distributors. Requests for concerts followed, along with a repeated statement – “You should be a Cantor”… The opportunity to do exactly that came soon enough, when Congregation Ahavat Achim in Connecticut offered Shirona a High Holiday position, for which she studied privately with Hazzan Sam Weiss for six months. She also attended the Academy for Jewish Religion in Riverdale NY. With a trained voice, fluency in Hebrew, years of experience teaching children music in Hebrew schools, playing guitar and with a deep commitment and love for all things Jewish…becoming a Cantor seems like nothing less than destiny. Presently Shirona is the full time Cantor at Congregation KTI in Port Chester NY. She continues to compose and record original Jewish Liturgical music. Recently two of her compositions were finalists in the “Shalshelet Festival for New Jewish Liturgical Music”, with a gala inaugural concert in November 2004 in DC. Her music is featured in many collections – Craig Taubman’s “Celebrate Shabbat” and “Narrow Bridge”, Transcontinental’s “Shabbat Anthology I”, and the CA’s “Zamru Lo”. View all albums by Shirona |
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