PREVIOUS ARTISTS & WORKSHOP LEADERS
NATALIE WEISS
Natalie Weiss gained an international following from her performance videos and popular YouTube web series, "Breaking Down The Riffs," which have collectively reached over 4 million views. As a private vocal coach and master class teacher, she trains performers across the US and throughout the world.
Ilan "The Aleph Bass" Brownstein
Ilan “The Aleph Bass” Brownstein started beatboxing in high school during his long walks to synagogue, and hasn’t stopped since. Ilan joined Y-Studs A Cappella two years ago. In addition to beatboxing, Ilan is currently attending Rabbinical School at Yeshiva University and can’t wait to combine his passions.
Lisa Kasdan
Lisa J. Kasdan is a singer, voice teacher and attorney from New Jersey. She performs about five times per month in both private and public gigs. She gives voice lessons weekly. She is also the acting cantor for her Jewish community, Sha’ar Communities, in Bergen County,
Mordy Weinstein
Mordy Weinstein has been a fixture of the Jewish music scene for years, currently as a member of the award-winning a cappella group, Six13. Through writing, arranging, producing, and managing, Mordy has traveled the world, from the US to Austria, New Zealand, and South Africa. Find out more about Mordy and his music at www.maxmord.com.
Jacob “Spike” Kraus
Jacob “Spike” Kraus is an up and coming singer/songwriter from Boston, Ma. He has three studio releases: ‘The King’s Beanie EP,’ “Shake Off The Dust,” and just released his second studio album ‘Cornerstones’ in May 2017. Twenty-six years old and currently based out of New York, NY, Jacob is excited to begin his new role as Music Teacher at Beit Rabban Day School in Manhattan. He has been song leading for over a decade at synagogues, day schools, and summer camps, having served as Head Songleader at both the URJ Eisner Camp and the URJ Kutz Camp for several summers. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in the spring of 2013 with a degree in Music Performance. His music has been included in the cantorial curriculum of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and is featured on Jewish Rock Radio. A member of the Jewish A Cappella group Six13, JSK believes in music’s power as a community-builder. He tours the country singing with communities and using Jewish music as a tool to educate and engage the next generation of Jews. Find out more about Jacob and his music at www.jacobspikekr
April Peters
April Peters is a soul-stirring songwriter and recording artist with a driving passion to help women and children find freedom and discover their value in God. With the help of a Grammy-nominated producer, April released her debut EP, Early Bloomer, to raise awareness about domestic violence and the power of forgiveness. She has performed in Europe, West Africa for Liberia's children scarred after civil war, and throughout the United States. Hailed by Monarch Magazine for being "a person empowering others to become exceptional” and featured on FOX’s Good Day Philadelphia, April just released the official music video to the title track of her sophomore EP, Fly. Available at www.aprilpetersonline.com.
Mike Boxer
Recently named one of Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” millennials changing the face of the Jewish community, Mike Boxer is Producer of the annual Jewish Performing Arts Festival and bi-annual Best of Jewish A Cappella CD series. He is founder of Halfway Coherent Productions, and founder and director of award-winning professional groups Six13 and One Guy Upstate. An arranger of more than 250 a cappella arrangements performed by dozens of groups worldwide, Mike also hosts the KolCast, a monthly podcast dedicated to Jewish a cappella.