U.S. Choir and Czech Orchestra help Raise Money for the Slovak Cancer Research Foundation

June 22, 2008

Under the leadership of Conductor David Morales, the Cantare Con Vivo Choir from Oakland, California joined the Bohuslav Martin Philharmonic from Zlin and Slovak soloist Martin Mikuš to perform Ernest Bloch’s “Avodat HaKodesh” at a benefit concert at Slovak Radio on June 22. The Concert, partially sponsored by the Embassy, was part of the choir’s central European tour and raised money for the Slovak Cancer Research Foundation. The concert featured performances of Alexander Zemlinsky’s Psalm 13 as well as a Slovak version of Bloch’s Kaddish. Director of the Office of Experimental Oncology at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, RNDr. Ján Sedlák, DrSc., spoke at the end of the concert, applauding the accomplishment of the musicians. He compared their expertise to that of the scientists doing research, describing both as pinnacles of human achievement. Dr. Sedlák finished by quoting Cantare Con Vivo’s mission statement saying, “We must each strive to do the best we can in order to achieve our potential. After that is calls us to practice, improve and then, finally give it all away to those we love and those who love us.

Read more about Cantare Con Vivo and the Slovak Cancer Research Foundation