Founded by conductor Eleanor Epstein in 1976, Zemer Chai today is one of the nation’s leading Jewish choirs. The choir sings the full range of Jewish choral repertoire, from classical and liturgical pieces to world Jewish folk music in multiple languages, and new works composed especially for the choir.  The concerts offer a breadth of Jewish music that is rarely heard – giving life to music that had been hidden away in dusty archives over decades or even centuries, and also giving contemporary composers the opportunity to have their works performed with respect for their vision. In the words of composer Steve Cohen, “Your magnificent rendition of Baruch Habah … went way beyond just the correct notes; it was very clear that every singer understood just what I meant to convey, and they delivered that with conviction and assurance.”

Zemer Chai has performed at the White House, Library of Congress, Strathmore and the Kennedy Center. The choir has traveled to New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, the Catskills, the West Virginia mountains – and the hills of Jerusalem. An integral part of the Greater Washington, D.C. community, Zemer Chai takes pride in building bridges to other faiths and cultures, attracting audiences of many backgrounds and participating in numerous intercultural events.