YU Alumnus Shalom Morgenstern Opens Channukah Concert

In a stellar performance kicking off what undoubtedly will be a long and prosperous musical career, YC alumnus and RIETS student Shalom Morgenstern opened up Chanukah concert ‘99 to rave reviews.

Nearly one month following the successful release of his top-selling debut album, "Ltav Avid," Morgenstern wowed the crowd of 1,100 in Lamport Auditorium with his sensational performance. Morgenstern, known on the YC campus simply as "Jon," stole the stage as he displayed his phenomenal voice while singing three of his signature songs and later returned to the stage for the big finale, led by Yossi Green.

An MTA graduate as well, Morgenstern joked that he feels he has been here forever, as he reminded the audience that his last performance on the YU stage was when he sang as a soloist for the Miami Boys Choir the memorable "Torah Today."

The Concert opened with awesome renditions of the all empowering "Ltav Avid," followed by a very emotional "K’ayol," and the effervescent hora, "Bitchu"- already a favorite dancing tune at Jewish weddings.

Possessing an astoundingly gifted and harmonious voice, Morgentern is quickly becoming well know in the world of Jewish Music and making his mark as one of the most popular and talented young stars. Chanukah Concert ‘99 followed his triumphantly raved Shabbos Chanukah weekend show at the well attended Homowack hotel in Upstate New York.

Toward the end of the concert, Morgenstern returned to the stage amidst deafening applause, to begin the concert’s grand finale with a superb and inspiring lead-in to the song "Shalom Aleichem." Folloing his entrance, Shloime Dachs joined with Shalom center stage, as they locked arms and exquisitely harmonized together in a most memorable and dazzling performance. Throughout the finale’s series of Green and Carlebach tunes, Morgenstern and Dachs vocalized together with Avraham Fried, Dedi and Yossi Green as the five stars of the evening synchronized their voices with unsurpassed synergy.

"It is fitting to be singing here at home in YU," exclaimed Morgenstern who fit right in with the seasoned big name stars of the show. One final "at home" touch was added as Morgenstern, the YU guy, chanted the infamous "Oy Ribbono Shel Olam, Yeshivas Yitzchak Elchonon," Yeshiva’s patriotic lyrics to the tune of the world famous Carlebach song "Simcha L’Artzecha."

"He really has beautiful voice" exclaimed Sruli Tannenbaum, former YCSC president who still hangs around Yeshiva and thoroughly enjoyed Shalom’s performance.

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