First Night, First Light: Klezmer & Latke Party feat. Members of Klezmer 42

On the First Night of Hanukkah, Thursday, December 7th, the Jewish Educational Alliance along with the Savannah Music Festival will host a “First Night, First Light” celebration. Bring the family to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with klezmer music by members of Klezmer Local 42, an Athens, Georgia based klezmer band, enjoy savory and sweet latkes, kids crafts, and join us for the lighting of the menorah at sunset. Everyone is welcome to this free event.

Dan Horowitz is a Savannah Music Festival Musical Explorers artist. He has played bass for the rock band Five Eight since its inception in 1988, but klezmer music was a large part of his life and identity growing up in a Jewish household.  In 2007, he wanted to expand his artistry, and began searching for musicians to form a klezmer band of his own. Klezmer Local 42 was formed in 2009 and incorporates classic rock, swing, hip-hop, and many other influences into its music.

Developed in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, the Savannah Music Festival Musical Explorers program is designed to expose area K-2 students to diverse musical styles as they build fundamental skills. This free educational program focuses on three musical genres each semester and concludes with live, interactive concerts, allowing students to perform songs and dances with the professional musicians who inspired their lessons. During the Fall 2023 semester, Musical Explorers students explored Klezmer, musical theater and blues music.