Dr. Noreen Green is currently conductor and artistic director of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), music director at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, a renowned lecturer on Jewish Music, and an accomplished educator. In addition, she is a devoted wife and mother to her husband, Dr. Ian Drew and their two children, Aaron and Hannah. Since the orchestra's founding in 1994, she has brought neglected as well as new and familiar orchestral works on Jewish themes to the concert stage. She is known world wide for her knowledge and skill in presenting this material. On a personal level, the recognition she has received from the print and radio media has been overwhelming, with major articles in the LA Times, Daily News, and the Jewish Journal; feature profiles in Lifestyles Magazine and in the Hadassah National Magazine, and a National Public Radio interview.
Dr. Green has received public recognition for her outstanding contributions to the multi-cultural musical scene in Los Angeles by Congressman Brad Sherman (August, 2005) and by the Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Live (October, 2005). She has received the Jewish Cultural Star award presented by the National Foundation of Jewish Culture at The Jewish Image Awards (October, 2005), the Golda Meir Award from The State of Israel Bonds (May 2005), the Hall of Fame Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners (March, 2003) and the Women of Significance Award from Adat Ari El Sisterhood (April, 2000). She has been a featured speaker for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Upbeat Live series (2001) and conducted at the opening ceremonies of the 2001 Maccabi Games in Philadelphia. Dr. Green has been the guest conductor for Jewish Music concerts with the Rubin Academy Orchestra in Tel Aviv (2000), the Johannesburg Philharmonic (2003), the Jerusalem Symphony at the new performing arts center in Herzliyah (2004) and the R'aanana Symphonette (2004). The LAJS under the baton of Dr. Green, has performed in concert with Hollywood personalities including Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Leonard Nimoy, Randy Newman, Theodore Bikel, Laraine Newman, Valerie Harper, Pat Boone, Lainie Kazan, Fyvush Finkel, Dave Koz, Marvin Hamlisch and more.
During her tenure with the LAJS, Dr. Green, along with Education Director Ilzabeth Gilbert, has developed seven Education Programs initially funded by the New and Innovate Grants division of the Jewish Community Foundation. Several of those grants have gone on to receive funding from the Righteous Persons Foundation, the Maurice Amado Foundation, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, the Leonard and Susan Bay Nimoy Foundation and the Tel Aviv/Los Angeles Partnership.
Dr. Green received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at California State University, Northridge under the well-known conductor John Alexander. From 1981 to 1990, Dr. Green was the conductor of the American Jewish Choral Society. As West Coast Music Director of the David Nowakowsky Foundation from1992-1998, Dr. Green presented an annual concert series of the Nowakowsky Chorale. She wrote her doctoral treatise on the music of Nowakowsky, and went on to edit many of his works, ten of which have been published by Laurendale.
From 1986 to 1992, Dr. Green was an Assistant Professor at CSUN and in the summer of 1993, Noreen worked with conductor Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Music School. With his support and encouragement, Noreen developed the concept for and then founded the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony.
Richard Merkin, M.D. Founder
Janet Schulman Co-Chair
Sheila Hartman Co-Chair
S. Ian Drew, M.D. President
Stanley Baratta V.P. Development
Cheri Warner V.P. Marketing
Sandy Berman Secretary
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Honey Kessler Amado
Norm Berman, M.D.
Sylvia Bernstein-Tregub
Robert Carroll, M.D.
Sandy Carroll
Dr. Bernie Franklin
Judy Franklin
Jean Friedman
Jill Glasband
Noralee Gold
Howard Hartman
Andrew Kluger
Sylvia Kummer Margolis
Grace Marzocchetti
George Marzocchetti
Rikie Peled
Barbara Prober
Wendy Prober-Cohen
Guy Saperstein
Jeanine Saperstein
Randol Schoenberg, Esq.
Cynthia Tivers
Fred Warner
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Alexander Bernstein
Theodore Bikel
Phil Blazer
Neal Brostoff
Gordon Davidson
Cantor Herschel Fox
Jerry Friedman
Cantor Joseph Gole
Cantor Nathan Lam
Ruth Rauch
Maestro Lucas Richman
Maestro Murry Sidlin
Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis
Bonnie Somers
Martin Tucker
The mission of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony is to perform orchestral works of well known, as well as not commonly recognized Jewish composers; establish opportunities for the presentation of new compositions by Jewish artists; serve as a professional resource for aspiring Jewish and non-Jewish musicians; act as an educational medium for Jewish music and composers; and provide educational opportunities for diverse populations of school age children.
Since 1994, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony has been dedicated to the performance of orchestral works of distinction, which explore Jewish culture, heritage and experience. It also serves as an important resource for aspiring composers and musicians. As part of its mission, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony is committed to building "bridges of music" and understanding within the diverse multi-ethnic communities of our great city.
Since its debut performance in 1994, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, under the baton of Artistic Director Noreen Green, has won local, national and international acclaim for its inspired programming featuring commissioned new works and many world premieres. Its performances at numerous prestigious venues locally and overseas have played to the ovation of standing room only audiences.
In addition to its yearly concerts, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony develops and conducts educational outreach programming for over 1000 school children each season. The Symphony's commitment to our future generations reflects its belief in the life affirming value and importance of music appreciation.
The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony fills a cultural niche that revitalizes the legacy of Jewish music and spans the broad range of Jewish heritage from the nadir of adversity to the triumph of accomplishment. In the words of the Los Angeles Times "...the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony seems committed to the axiom that diversity is a terrible thing to waste."
Dr. Noreen Green is currently conductor and artistic director of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), music director at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California, a renowned lecturer on Jewish Music, and an accomplished educator. In addition, she is a devoted wife and mother to her husband, Dr. Ian Drew and their two children, Aaron and Hannah. Since the orchestra's founding in 1994, she has brought neglected as well as new and familiar orchestral works on Jewish themes to the concert stage. She is known world wide for her knowledge and skill in presenting this material. On a personal level, the recognition she has received from the print and radio media has been overwhelming, with major articles in the LA Times, Daily News, and the Jewish Journal; feature profiles in Lifestyles Magazine and in the Hadassah National Magazine, and a National Public Radio interview.
