About Koleinu

Now in our 25th year!

Since 2002, Koleinu has brought Jewish choral music to life for singers and audiences across Greater Boston. Founded by Rabbi-Hazzan Dr. Scott Sokol and local singer Larry Kozinn, this 60-member, non-auditioned chorus welcomes adults of all backgrounds and experience levels — no prior musical training or religious affiliation required.

Led since its founding by acclaimed Artistic Director Carol Marton, and accompanied by the extraordinarily talented Terry Halco, Koleinu is known for its expressiveness, rich repertoire, and the high musical standards it upholds as an inclusive community chorus. Koleinu shares the full breadth of Jewish musical heritage through concerts, festivals, and collaborations with celebrated artists throughout the region.

Koleinu is a member of Chorus America and the Greater Boston Choral Consortium.
Rehearsals are Thursday evenings in Washington Square, Brookline.

© Alan Shepro

What We Sing

Koleinu’s repertoire spans the breadth of Jewish musical expression — liturgical and secular, traditional and contemporary. Each season, the chorus explores new terrain, often organized around a unifying theme.

Recent programs have included Tikkun Olam, Together in Song ~ Embracing Community through Jewish Music (fall 2025) and Hinei Ma Tov — Behold How Good! (spring 2026); R’fuat Nefesh: Renewing the Soul (spring 2025); and Kolot Nashim: Celebrating Women Composers (spring 2024).

Koleinu has also commissioned new works to mark major milestones — Osnat Netzer’s Sound the Great Shofar for its 10th anniversary in 2012, and A Funkl Gleybik for its 20th anniversary in 2022, both supported in part by a grant from Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

Join Us

Discover the joy of singing Jewish music with our warm, welcoming community chorus! Koleinu, Boston’s Jewish Community Chorus is a vibrant, non- audition choir. No musical training or religious affiliation is required. A love of singing is all you need. Curious what it’s like? Join us for an Open Rehearsal in September or January. No experience necessary.

Each season, Koleinu performs two major concerts— one in winter, one in spring— along with two special performances at senior living residences across Greater Boston, bringing music to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy our repertoire. For more details about Open Rehearsals, check our homepage, or send us an email at: info@koleinu.org.

Collaborations & Performances

Koleinu continues to build new partnerships each season, while carrying forward a rich history of collaboration and performance.

Collaborating Artists & Ensembles

2025
  • A Besere Velt Yiddish Chorus, with Derek David
  • Cantors Robbie Solomon and Maayan Silverman, Temple Ohabei Shalom
2024
  • Rav Chazzan Michael McCloskey, Temple Emeth
2023
  • Zamir Chorale of Boston, concert in memory of Sarah Boling
Festivals
  • North American Jewish Choral Festival, New York (multiple appearances, most recently 2014
  • Boston Jewish Music Festival (multiple appearances)
  • New England Jewish Choral Festival (featured performer)
  • Greater Boston Community Choral Festival, Sanders Theater, Cambridge (2010)
Notable Concerts & Commemorations
  • 15th Anniversary Commemoration of the New England Holocaust Memorial, Boston (2011)
  •  70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht commemoration — a sold-out production with 200 voices, full orchestra, and narration by Leonard Nimoy, Providence, RI (2009)
  • Boston Jewish Music Festival with Kol B’seder (Jeff Klepper & Dan Freelander), 40th anniversary celebration, Rashi School, Dedham (2011)
  • Play for Japan, benefit concert for Japan relief, Temple Emeth, Brookline (2011)
  • Collaborative Jewish and Gospel music concert benefiting an anti-violence and youth leadership program, Boston (2008)
  • Wagner’s Jews film presentation, Hebrew College, Newton (2014)
  •  Temple Beth David annual memorial concert, Westwood (2014)
Interfaith & Community Programs
  • Temple Emeth’s celebration of Chiune Sugihara with Chorus Boston (Japanese chorus)
  • Benefit concerts for the Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM) (2016-2019).
  • Ebola Relief benefit concert, Newton
  • Boston College Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration
  • Annual performances at senior living communities, including Lasell Village, Springhouse, and Hebrew Senior Life
Additional Collaborators
  • Cantor Michael McCloskey & Rabbi Kay Allen, Ma’yan Tikvah, Temple Emeth
  • Cantor Randall Schloss & soprano Leah Schloss, Temple Ohabei Shalom
  • Cantor Peter Halpern
  • Cantor Elias Rosemberg
  • Cantor Gastón Bogomolni
  • Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band
  • Hankus Netsky
  • Boston Community Choir
  • Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
Memberships
  • Chorus America
  • Greater Boston Choral Consortium