Between Gospel and Metal in the heart of New York

A musical student exchange between Germany and Israel brings the museum to life.

On August 23, 2023, the kickoff of the “cooltour 2023” took place at the German Emigration Center. Israeli students met with German youths from the Geestemünde secondary school. The gospel choir from Rosh HaAyin filled the museum hall “Grand Central Terminal” with their singing and delighted the attending visitors with a musical surprise. Afterwards, they joined other musicians for the main concert in our New York hall, which was opened by city councilor Michael Frost.

The musicians at the concert in the New York hall had a wide range: along with the Israeli bands, the Bremen harp ensemble was also represented – a string ensemble with wind harps, long strings, and monochords, supported by students from Geestemünde secondary school. Another student from OSG, who had come from Ukraine to Bremerhaven last year, presented some self-written pieces on the electric guitar, contrasting deep metal sounds with the cheerful gospel.

The school’s exchange with the Rosh HaAyin Conservatory also led to a collaboration with drum specialist Kobi Hagoel, who joined acoustically with his own compositions to the various musicians in the hall.

As part of the project, students from Israel and Germany come together. They work collaboratively in various workshops on musical and artistic projects. For example, the youths work with a graphic designer and a hip-hop producer. They are meant to discover that there is more that connects them than separates them. Musical and artistic works arise from this cooperation, which will be immortalized media-wise. We thank you for this musical experience!