SHIR brings Unbreakable to Perth for first time
Deborah Conway will lead a national line-up as SHIR's Unbreakable concert makes its Perth debut.
SHIR, the Australian Jewish Music Festival, will bring its Unbreakable concert to Perth for the first time this November, with singer Deborah Conway headlining.
The Perth show follows sold-out performances in both Sydney and Melbourne. Now in its third year, the festival is presenting its flagship concert outside the East Coast for the first time.
Conway will be joined by her husband, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Willy Zygier, and pianist Simon Tedeschi AM. Other performers include violinist Ben Adler, cellist Rebecca Herman, vocalist Jemma Cher, singer Sarit Michael, cantor and vocalist Ezry Israel, and Ben Goldstein, a finalist on The Voice Australia and X Factor Israel. The klezmer fusion ensemble CHUTNEY will appear with guest violinist Lara Goodridge.
Perth soprano Sarah Ganon, a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, will make her debut in her home city.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be part of SHIR, especially as it makes its first visit to Western Australia,” Ganon said. “It’s particularly special to have the opportunity to celebrate Jewish culture and resilience alongside such an inspiring line-up of artists, here in my own city and community.”
SHIR festival director Ben Adler said, “SHIR is Australia’s only national Jewish performing arts organisation. We are beyond delighted to make good on this title by expanding beyond the East Coast and connecting with our brothers and sisters in Perth.”
Adler said the festival was bringing a sold-out show telling the story of the Jewish people through music and “can’t wait for the Perth Jewish community to join us for what will be a historic night”.
The program will feature contemporary Israeli music alongside classical, liturgical, traditional and popular repertoire.
Conway said she hoped the concert would offer audiences a sense of belonging.
“I hope audiences feel a profound sense of community at this very strange and perilous time,” she said. “To be a Jew in Australia right now is to be walking on eggshells, to be hyper aware of being othered, of being found guilty of incontrovertible facts about the core of our being.”
Unbreakable is on November 26. For tickets, visit ticketswa.com/event/unbreakable-octagon