YBC & PRUZ in Baltimore 1/6/2008

On Sunday night January 6, 20008, The Yeshiva Boys Choir performed to a crowd of over 1700 people at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Maryland. YBC was the featured act in this year’s NCSY Jewish Music Festival, an event that has been a Baltimore tradition for 30 years. The event also introduced Michoel “Pruz” Pruzansky to Baltimore. While this may have been the first time that YBC & Pruz performed for NCSY, it surely won’t be the last. They were accompanied by the local Zemer Orchestra under the skilled direction of YBC’s producer, Jewish music superstar, Eli Gerstner. With their amazing musical compositions, engaging performance, and creative choreography, the Choir energized the audience and filled the air with a palpable excitement and remarkable Ruach. Pruz was a real hit when he sang the popular “Yamamai” and his new “Pruzbul” song; he touched hearts with his “You’re Watching Me”, a moving ballad about the Hashgocha Pratis in our lives. The flawless show was a musical masterpiece from start to finish. Delighted audience members tossed beach balls during “Ein”, clapped during the “wedding shtick” for “Booraich”, waved green glow sticks along with the Choir during “Koli S’hma”, and danced in the aisles during, “Yamamai”, “Lazer’s Niggun”—which also included Pruz-- and a rousing rendition of “Kol HaMispallel/Niggun Neshoma” for the show’s finale. One of the evening’s highlights was a special “Get Discovered” segment in which local boys from Baltimore joined YBC on stage for the “Carlebach Medley”. Enthusiastic Choir director Yossi Newman—who didn’t stop smiling the entire night—gave each Baltimore boy a chance to have a solo while a professional photographer snapped pictures so that they would have a special souvenir of their moment in the spotlight with YBC. Concert feedback was overwhelmingly positive and Baltimoreans are still singing the praises of Eli Gerstner, Yossi Newman, YBC and Pruz. One of NCSY’s directors commented that this was their most Leibedik concert ever and that their Board and concert committee could not have been more pleased with the turnout, the actual show, and the tremendous response they have received to this year’s event.