Sono Luminus proudly presents this truly beautiful and unique collection of choral music by Essential Voices USA under the direction of Judith Clurman.

Judith Clurman combines the expertise born of thirty years as a prominent conductor with memories of her own childhood in synagogue and an intimate knowledge of this poignant repertoire to create the unique recording 'Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit'.

The recording introduces exciting arrangements of traditional songs that represent the Jewish holidays and life cycle events: from the centrepiece Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah, a cycle for chorus, soloists and orchestra that premiered at Carnegie Hall, to the 19th-century lyrical classicism of Louis Lewandowski and Emanuel Kirschner, to works by folk artist Debbie Friedman, cantor composer Bruce Ruben, and Canadian composer Ben Steinberg.

The recording also features important new works, among them a minimalist setting of Set Me as a Seal by Nico Muhly, Larry Hochman’s Shomeir Yisrael, and Paul Schoenfield’s Al Hanisim, all written for Judith.

The recording features the singers of Essential Voices USA, soloists Ron Raines, Bruce Ruben and Michael Slattery, and renowned guest instrumentalists, including composers Larry Hochman and Paul Schoenfield accompanying their own works.

This amazing mix of tradition and modern compositions and arrangements is masterfully delivered by this fabulous chorus, and captured by Multi-Grammy award winning producer David Frost.