John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Senior Recital: Eryka Velazquez and Daniella Risman

Dellhiem Senior Recital with Eryka Velazquez and Daniella Risman

Tuesday, April 6, 2021, 7:00 p.m. ET

Join cantorial students Eryka Velazquez and Daniella Risman for an exciting evening of music and spirit as they share their talents and their vision for the 21st century cantorate. This is the second 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.

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

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

Eryka Velazquez is excited to be in her final year of cantorial school and to be presenting her senior recital. Originally from Southern California, Eryka is a passionate singer and music has always played a major role in her life.

After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, Eryka followed her dream of becoming a cantor. Also having a deep love for teaching and coming from a family full of educators, she recently graduated from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education last May. During her time at JTS, Eryka has taught music, liturgy, b’nai mitzvah, and Judaica at Camp Ramah Wisconsin, Park Avenue Synagogue, and South Huntington Jewish Center. Currently, Eryka serves as part-time cantor at Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in Rockville Centre, Long Island. She utilizes the power of prayer and music to connect present-day Jews with ancient Jewish traditions. Through song and liturgy, she engages and inspires communities of all ages. 

Eryka is proud and honored to join the caliber of her mentors and supporters who have guided her along this journey. She is grateful to Joyce Rosenzweig, Cantor Gerald Cohen, and Cantor Nancy Abramson for all their assistance in preparing her for this special day. She says a huge “thank you” to her family for their unending support and love.

Daniella Risman (soprano) is a performer in varied genres including opera, art song, chazzanut, Yiddishkeit, jazz, and of course liturgical music. She currently serves as the Cantorial Intern at Ansche Chesed, a Conservative synagogue in Manhattan. Before coming to JTS, Daniella split her time between singing opera and work in the nonprofit world. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, and a Master of Music in Voice from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 

Daniella was born in Israel and was raised there and in California. She is an avid traveler and lover of languages, having studied seven languages and sung in still more. She enjoys delicious kitchen projects and hiking, and is the proud mother of a rambunctious toddler and a newborn. Daniella would like to express gratitude to her teachers and mentors, especially Cantor Robert Kieval, Cantor Natasha Hirschhorn, Cantor Jack Mendelson, Cantor Richard Nadel, Raymond Goldstein, and Joyce Rosenzweig, and a deeply heartfelt thank you to Cantor Nancy Abramson for her generous spirit and inspired leadership.  

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 recital: 

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