KleZlectic Presents a Klezmer Concert for Chanukah!

December 05, 2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Pittsburgh based KleZlectic features Clarinetist Janice Coppola; Laura Daniels - vocals and keyboard; Mark Perna - bass; and Gordon Nunn - percussion. Klezmer music is an instrumental tradition that originated with the Ashkenazi Jews in Central and Eastern Europe. The term Klezmer comes from Yiddish, and is a shortened version of the Hebrew words for instrument (kley) and song (zemer)..

This program will be available to watch live on Facebook Live, on YouTube, and on the OCPL website's LWB Livestream page.  Log into your Facebook or YouTube account during the program to leave questions for our presenters in the comments box. They will answer them during the live broadcast. 

PRESENTER BIO:  KleZlectic--music for a modern world--Inspire your creative spirit and feed your musical soul!  KleZlectic specializes in klezmer music (Jewish soul and lively dance music), but also perform American, popular, jazz and Jewish folk songs, serving up a lively mix of truly sweet genres for any occasion, with a fusion of jazz and classical music.  Janice Coppola, clarinet; Mark Perna, trombone; Roger Day, tuba; Laura Daniels, vocals and keyboard; and Jeff Berman, percussion, are all long-time Pittsburgh musicians who present a one-of-a-kind musical experience for audiences of all ages.  Their arrangements of new compositions and of even the more familiar, older melodies bring a 21st century appeal to the listener who is looking for an ensemble who has their audiences kicking up their heels and asking for more!  Find out more by looking on JaniceCoppola.com.

For our concert, KleZlectic will feature Clarinetist Janice Coppola; Laura Daniels - vocals and keyboard; Mark Perna - bass; and Gordon Nunn - percussion. 

Janice Coppola received her B.M. and M.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music and also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts (UNSCA) for high school.  Ms. Coppola is currently performing as a klezmer soloist and free lance musician in the Pittsburgh area, as well as in New Jersey and New York.  She is currently playing with and writing music for KleZlectic, a klezmer group in Pittsburgh.  As a soloist, Janice has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Preservation Hall Band, and the River City Brass, the Northern New Jersey Baroque Orchestra, the Edgewood Symphony and the Plainfield Symphony in New Jersey.  Janice has recorded on eight CD's and is currently working on a CD of her compositions for klezmer.  Janice was cast as a live klezmer clarinetist in Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of "Indecent" during April and May 2019. a production that received rave reviews.  Janice also works for Temple Sinai in Pittsburgh as co-music director of the Temple Sinai Band with Laura Daniels.  You can find updates about Janice and her performances on JaniceCoppola.com

Laura Riesberg Daniels, a Pittsburgh native, has a varied background as a musician, teacher and actress.  She teaches musical theater classes at Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon and Pittsburgh CLO Academy, where she also teaches special needs individuals. She performed in lecture demos for Gateway to the Arts. Laura has attended two years of Songleader Bootcamp in St. Louis, MO with Sheldon Low and Rick Recht. Piano teachers include the late William Chrystal and Vince Lascheid, and more recently, Frank Cunimondo. She has performed with The Hot Matzohs, AlgoLatino, The Bridge, Cayenne(gospel), Mike Stout and the Human Union, Brass Impact, The Holidays, Jerry Mellix, The Mystics, Jazz East, Platinum, John McDonald, John Puckett and the Kim Alexander Band. Laura recorded a CD of cabaret piano versions of songs on “Midnight Cabaret” by John Hayes, including ‘I’m a Song.’

Mark Perna - Bassist, trombonist and producer Mark Perna has performed and produced extensively with some of the finest performers in Pittsburgh.  He has produced or appeared on recordings by Jack Erdie, Anne Feeney, Peter King, Leslie Smith, Don Aliquo, Christopher Jones and his own CDs. For the past six years, he has played trombone and bass in the Klezmer band Klezlectic.  He produced and performed on four albums that gained international attention by jazz legend Richie Cole prior to Cole’s passing in 2020. 

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"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to your computer), feed your brain!