John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Senior Recital: Jacob Sandler and Mira Davis

Join cantorial students Jacob Sandler and Mira Davis for an exciting evening of music and spirit as they share their talents and their vision for the 21st century cantorate. The recital will feature a wide range of great Jewish music—hazzanut and other synagogue music, popular classics, contemporary settings, and original compositions—in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish.

Joyce Rosenzweig, adjunct instructor at JTS, is the pianist for this concert.

This is the first of three virtual recitals presented this year to celebrate the work of the graduating class as they complete their studies at the H. L. Miller Cantorial School.

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The recital can be viewed at jtsa.edu/live.

Jacob Sandler is thrilled to be part of the graduating class of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at JTS this year. From years as a camper and staff member at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires (where he is affectionately known as “Milk”) to his time spent in Israel, Jewish life has always played a major role in his identity. Jake is enthusiastic about continuing his spiritual, musical, personal, and professional growth in the cantorate. Prior to JTS, he earned a BA in K-12 Music Education from Buffalo State College. He is currently serving the JTS community for a third year as Jewish Life Director for Graduate Student Life and honing his craft as the cantorial intern at New City Jewish Center. Before the pandemic, Jacob was often singing in Jewish a cappella groups, rehearsing with choirs, and substitute teaching in schools. As a multi-instrumentalist, he enjoys performing with friends. He spends most of his spare time writing original music, Jewish and secular, including an original musical. Jacob would like to thank all those involved in making this recital happen, with special thanks to his parents and family, whose unwavering support has made today possible. (“I love you guys!”)

Mira Davis is completing her studies in the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at JTS. While in cantorial school, she has served as the cantorial intern at Congregation B’nai Amoona in St. Louis, as well as at the Brotherhood Synagogue in Manhattan. Mira is currently working as the cantorial intern at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan. She graduated from Columbia University, where she majored in music, with a specialty in vocal performance. Mira was interested in music and theatre from an early age. She joined her first choir at her synagogue, Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell, NJ, when she was six years old. Mira was also in the choir at her high school and was a member of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir as well as its chamber choir. While at Columbia, Mira joined two Jewish choirs in New York: Zamir Chorale and Zamir Noded, in which she currently serves as peer coordinator. She has sung solos at David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall, as well as on the Metropolitan Opera stage. 

About the Dellheim Recital 

John Dellheim (z”l) was a Holocaust survivor who became a pioneer computer programmer at IBM. He deeply loved Judaism and Jewish music and endowed the John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Internship Program and Concert Series to bring Western cantorial music around the United States via the mentors, alumni, and students of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School, thereby perpetuating the performance and transmission of Jewish sacred music to future generations.

The John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Endowment Fund initiative includes an internship program that pairs students with mentors in the field, and expands the school’s opportunities to teach concert planning, enhance repertoire coaching, and present student performances.

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Next recitals: 

Tuesday, April 6: Eryka Velazquez and Daniella Risman Learn more

Monday, April 12: Eliana Kissner with performances by the H. L. Miller Cantorial School Chorus, directed by Cantor Natasha Hirschhorn and featuring all five Cantorial School seniors. Learn more