The Levins Performance Highlights:

 

  • URJ Biennial Conference 2019
  • New Caje 2019
  • World Premiere of My Friend Hafiz Show, SF 2018
  • Parliament of World Religions- 2018
  • Harmony in Unison Broadcasts 2017/2018
  • Repairing The World Interfaith Concert- Beth Shalom, Ohio 2017
  • South East Regional Folk Alliance Formal Showcase 2017
  • North East Regional Folk Alliance Formal Showcase 2016
  • Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist 2014
  • NY Limmud 2012
  • URJ Biennial Conference 2011
  • Boston Limmud 2011
  • URJ Ruach 5771 CD/Songbook
  • England Limmud 2010
  • Shalshelet Award 2010 & 2004
  • International Jewish Music Festival Amsterdam 2007


PRESS OPTIONS:

SHORT BIO

“The Levins folk music speaks the universal language of hope and compassion” - Serge Kozlovsky, Radio Magico, Belarus
The Levins (pronounced The L’Vins) are a NY-based duo “whose music celebrates our common humanity, reaching across cultural and religious borders, and the beauty of caring for each other.”  Their recordings have garnered invitations to perform in Amsterdam, England and throughout the United States in festivals, synagogues, churches and community centers.  Their uplifting, harmony-driven melodies combine a fresh revival of peace-inspired folk rock with wistful overtones of the 1930’s.  They have received numerous songwriting awards in the Jewish, Children's, and Folk categories.  


Short blurb:

Music celebrating lyrical mysticism that inspires joy. The Levins uplifting, harmony-driven melodies combine a fresh revival of peace-inspired folk rock with wistful overtones of the 1930’s. Their concerts are filled with songs that accentuate the connection between communities, with a light-hearted depth that delights and promotes a soulful joy


LONG BIO:

“Above all, The Levins’ harmonies recall the best of classic pop vocals… like The Beatles, James Taylor and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.”
Dan Pine- J. / the news weekly of N.California

Deciding to join forces for the upliftment of the human spirit and to bring some dignity to our collective experience, The Levins recorded their first CD*: 36, (now being distributed by Transcontinental music) based on the legend of the thirty-six Lamed Vavniks: the silent saints who keep the world in balance with their selfless benevolence. They were recently featured at the 2011 Boston and NY Limmuds, URJ Biennial, the 2010 Shalshelet Awards Festival and CD/Songbook, 2010 Limmud England and honored to be on the Ruach 5771 Compilation. The duo was again joined by their world folk ensemble on their second release My Friend Hafiz which was inspired by the words of the 14th century Sufi Master as translated by Daniel Ladinsky and brings a message of universal love and divine compassion to the listener. Ira and Julia, both singer-songwriters, have had solo and separate music careers in our own right. Ira Levin is also known as Uncle Eye (as seen on PBS Kids!) and Julia tours with internationally-acclaimed a cappella women’s quartet, Vocolot.
The Levins (now NY-based) have released:

  • 2002*- Madlik Oti- EP- Jewish Songs and Prayers
  • 2006- 36 - Songs and prayers inspired by Torah, Tanakh, and Jewish mysticism
  • 2010 EP called Barely Contained- with six original songs that will pick you up like a refreshing cup of coffee, including their increasingly popular version of the Yiddish tune, Ale Brider. 
  • 2013 My Friend Hafiz new additions and Re-release (#1 song/Top 10 CD FOLK DJ, John Platt, WFUV)
  • 2015 TRUST (Top 10 CD / #1 song John Platt, WFUV)
  • 2019 Caravan of Dawn (Top 10 CD- Folk DJ/ Top 10 Song John Platt, WFUV & Ron Olesko, WFDU)


* Ira and Julia first collaborated on Ira’s solo Jewish CD: Madlik Oti (C) 2002

FUN EXTRAS:
Ira and Julia met at a music open mic in California in 2000 and were married in 2002. Soon after Ira's alter ego, Uncle Eye, appeared on PBS Kids! and Julia became a member of the internationally-acclaimed a cappella women's quartet, Vocolot. Eventually they decided that whether they are performing or singing-storytelling, doing it together is waaaay more fun. 
 

Ira Scott Levin- Resume

Ira Scott Levin/ The Levins

Profile 

Cantorial soloist, song leader and singing storyteller working and celebrating with Jewish Communities from Miami to the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985. Since moving to New York, I have been enjoying connecting with communities and continuing to lead, co-lead, teach and perform for services, schools, programs, festivals and special events both solo and together with The Levins. 

Quotes

“Ira Levin is a master story teller, songleader and musician. His level of creativity and professionalism sets a standard for informal Jewish worship. He has served as a family service leader at my synagogue for five years to universal acclaim, and if I had a full-time position for him I'd hire him in a heartbeat.”

-Rabbi David Adelson/Dean NYC Campus Hebrew Union College/ formerly of East End Temple-New York, New York
 
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“When Ira leads the congregation in sung prayer and song he achieves a connection with the k'hilah which allows souls to rise. Beyond execution, which is impeccable, I have seen him transform a disperate group gathered for prayer, into a warm, worshiping congregation through his innate welcoming presence. Ira is a master of the art of worship. 

Whether children or sophisticated adult, his music and spoken word allow trust and intentionality  to suffuse the spirit of those praying.  When Julia joins Ira, and they become The Levins, there is a synergy in the singing and instrumental music. They become more than two prayer leaders and musicians. They are enablers for the Tefillah experience which moves beyond the words. 

At each Shabbat Eve service, congregants come thirty minutes early to listen and to sing with The Levins, in order to spiritually prepare for prayer.  They are a wonderful component of our Sabbath Experience. I, We, are blessed by their presence. “
 
-Rabbi Fred S. Pomerantz/ Congregation Agudas Achim- Livingston Manor, NY 

CCAR Liturgy Committee for: Gates of Prayer / Gates of the House / Gates of Repentance

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“Ira has a way of weaving Jewish themes into contemporary musical settings that is beautiful, original, and compelling. He has a strong and honest quality in his singing that fills our sancturary with amazement.  Ira is also a consummate story-teller. He is versed in a rich history of Jewish wisdom tales and he teaches essential Jewish values through this finely honed skill. It is hard to find a good story-teller, but Ira is one of them.”
 
Cantor Marsha Attie/ Congregation Emanu-El- SF, CA

 
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“Ira is an extremely talented musician. He adds a tremendous amount of spirit to any service he participates in. Ira has a beautiful voice and a very spiritual presence on the stage.  He has a fabulous rapport with children of all ages, and can really relate to both children and adults alike. I have seen Ira on mulitple occasions at local community centers, preschools, camps and synagogues sharing his joy of music, storytelling and Judaism with children and adults, and he is always engaging and creative.”
 
Cantor Ilene Keys/ Temple Sinai -Oakland, CA

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“Ira is an incredibly energetic person. He enters a classroom with his guitar, and a big smile. His energy is infectious and the children are immediately engaged, singing, dancing and all smiling. Ira works well with all of our staff members. He brings in his own ideas but also collaborates with my staff to reinforce classroom curriculum.  In the four years that I have known Ira I have not seen any weaknesses. He is by far the best music teacher we have ever had. I feel very lucky that he is a part of our professional staff.”

Susan Sporer/ Preschool Director, Union Temple Preschool-Brooklyn, NY

EXPERIENCE 

  • Tri-Monthly Service/Spiritual leader/ Cantorial Soloist (with wife, Julia) Temple Sholom, Monticello, NY since 2022
  • Weekly Song Leader / Family Services, Congregation Beth El, South Orange NJ since 2012 
  • Monthly Cantorial Soloist (with wife, Julia) Agudas Achim, Livingston Manor, NY since 2014 
  • Monthly Tot Shabbat Song Leader/ 2011-2020 Family High Holidays, East End Temple; NY, NY  2015-2019 
  • Weekly Song Leader/ Music Specialist, Union Temple, Brooklyn, NY 2013-2020
  • Shabbat in Bloom-Shabbat interactive musical experience for unaffiliated families in NJ parks as part of the Partnership for Jewish Learning 2015-2018 
  • Song Leader for special events, Partnership for Jewish Learning and PJ Library, NJ 2013-15
  • Tot Shabbat transitional Song Leader, Manhattan JCC; NY, NY 2011 
  • Song Leader/Music Specialist Substitute, Manhattan Day School; NY, NY 2011
  • High Holiday Family Service Leader/Cantorial Soloist, Peninsula Temple Shalom, Burlingame, CA 2000-2015
  • Song leader/Music Specialist, JCC East Bay, Berkeley, CA 1991-2010
  • Song Leader/Music Specialist, SFJCC; San Francisco, Ca 1993-2010 
  • Song Leader / Music Specialist, Contra Costa JCC; Walnut Creek, CA 2003-2010 Weekly Preschool music programing, Seniors, holiday celebrations, community events 
  • Cantorial Soloist, SFJCC; San Francisco, CA 2007-2010 Co-lead Community Passover seder; Shabbat, Havdallah Services for Macabee Games 
  • Song Leader/Entertainer, Peninsula JCC; Palo Alto, CA -2008-2010 Summer camps and community events. 
  • Instrumentalist/Cantorial Soloist, Temple Emanu-el; San Francisco, CA 2005-2010 Temple musician, Shabbat Services- clarinet/flute; The Levins guest artists / soloists 
  • Instrumentalist, Temple Sinai; Oakland, CA 2005-2010 Temple musician for Mizmor Shir services- clarinet/flute 
  • Cantorial Soloist, Beth Israel Judea; San Francisco, CA- 2007-2010 Family High Holiday and Shabbat Services 
  • Song Leader,Special event, Birthright Israel Next, Inc.; San Francisco, CA - 2009 
  • Music Specialist K- 5th Grade, Oakland Hebrew Day School; Oakland, CA - 2005
  • Song Leader, Camp Newman Teen and Family Retreat; Santa Rosa, CA 2005 
  • Music Specialist K-5th Grade, Congregation Netivot Shalom; Berkeley, CA- 2004
  • New Caje 2019
  • World Premiere of My Friend Hafiz Show, SF 2018
  • Parliament of World Religions- 2018
  • Harmony in Unison Broadcasts 2017/2018
  • Repairing The World Interfaith Concert- Beth Shalom, Ohio 2017
  • NY Limmud 2012
  • URJ Biennial Conference 2011
  • Boston Limmud 2011
  • URJ Ruach 5771 CD/Songbook
  • England Limmud 2010
  • International Jewish Music Festival Amsterdam 2007

Education 

  • BFA- Theater, FSU - 1981-1985
  • Hava Nashira- Jewish Song-leading training, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 
  • 1999-2015

 

Skills

  • Cantorial soloist, storyteller, lay service leader, tenor, guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, lyricist, composer, educator, writer.  

AWARDS 

  • 2014, 2010 Shalshelet New Jewish Liturgical Music Award

 References

  • Upon request

The Levins - Performance Highlights

  • Featured concert/service, Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA 2021,2022
  • Featured concerts, Beth El Congregation, Baltimore MD 2021, 2022
  • URJ Biennial Conference 2019
     

CONTACT:

TheLevins@yahoo.com

TheLevinsMusic.com

TheLevinsRuach.com