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Talented Jewish singers, musicians shine at abbreviated 2020 Winnipeg Music Festival
By MYRON LOVE
As per usual, the 2020 Winnipeg Music Festival – even though suspended after just one week (as compared to the normal four weeks due to the Coronavirus – did produce some winning performances by several younger members of our Jewish community.
The duo of Rachel Kraut and Greg Hyman, for example, finished first in the CLASS 1662 VOCAL DUET, MUSICAL THEATRE, 14 YEARS AND UNDER. They sang “The Doctor is In” from the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”.
For 14-year-old Grant Park High school student Rachel – the daughter of Uri and Jane Kraut – this was her second year in the annual competition. Last year, she earned a gold medal and two Silver medals in the Vocal Solo, TV and movie musicals, Girls 14 and under category. She says that she started taking singing lessons a couple of years ago because of her interest in musical theatre. Earlier this year, she appeared in the role of Irmgard in her high school’s production of “Hello Dolly”.
Grade 6 St. John’s Ravenscourt School student Greg Hyman last competed in the musical festival two years ago in violin in which he won two Gold medals– one for CLASS 4153 CLASSICAL GUITAR SOLO, CLASSICAL COMPOSERS, GRADE/LEVEL 1 and CLASS 3055 VIOLIN SOLO, OWN CHOICE, GRADE/LEVEL 2. About a year ago, he switched to musical theatre and guitar.
“I got to know Rachel through Kelly Robinson who teaches both of us,” says the son of Hartley and Rishona Hyman. (Robinson teaches singing and voice both privately and on staff at Ravenscourt and Canadian Mennonite University.) “She thought that Rachel and I would work well together.”
He was also slated to compete in classical guitar at the Festival – but it was not in the cards for this year.
Kelly Robinson also united her student Hannah Schaeffer with sister students Eva Gould and Alessandra Pellegrino in a trio competing in the CLASS 1702 VOCAL TRIO, MUSICAL THEATRE, 16 YEARS AND UNDER category at the Festival. The threesome finished second with their performance of “How D’ye Do and Shake Hands” as sung by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
Last year, the daughter of Marc Schaeffer and Kai Sasake won gold in the Vocal Solo, TV and movie musicals at the Girls 12 and under category. She also scored a first place finish as part of a trio in the Musical Theatre Grade B level and was the recipient of a Winnipeg Music Festival scholarship.
The Grade 7 Grant Student program student has been taking singing lessons for four years. Earlier this year, she played the role of young Anna in her high school’s staging of “Frozen” – the Junior version).
She says that she is looking forward to next year’s festival.
Julia Kroft has been participating in the music festival for about ten years. This year, the Asper School of Business student – who will be graduating in a few weeks – finished second in CLASS 1357A VOCAL SOLO, MUSICAL THEATRE, UP TEMPO, FEMALE, GRADE B – out of a field of eight – with her interpretation of “No One Else” from the musical, “The Great Comet of 1812”. She also sang “I’m Not Alone” from the musical adaptation of “Carrie”.
The daughter of David and Ellen Kroft has also performed with a musical theatre ensemble at the University of Manitoba and done some Fringe Festival work. After graduation, she says that she is interested in pursuing a career in marketing while also continuing to do some musical theatre.
For pianist Seth Broder, this was his second year in the Music Festival and the first time that he came close to the winner’s circle. He scored a second in the CLASS 2254 PIANO SOLO, 20TH/21ST CENTURY COMPOSERS, GRADE/LEVEL 5 category with Sonata in C Major by Spindler.
“I loved performing in the Music Festival says the Gray Academy Grade 8 student and son of Ellery and Libby Broder. “It is too bad that the Festival had to be cut short.”
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First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
