A local pianist, arranger and composer who has been honored as one of the top five albums in the Fall 2017 Global Music Awards Competition will perform in East Brunswick this month.
Dave Schlossberg’s debut album, “A Place Beyond Words,” was also awarded a Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement.
Released earlier this year, the solo piano album created by the former East Brunswick/current Monroe resident reinterprets classic Jewish melodies, infusing familiar prayers and chants as well as contemporary liturgical music with new rhythms and harmonies, according to a prepared statement.
“I find Jewish music to be beautiful and heartfelt, and I am attracted to its sincerity and honesty,” Schlossberg said in the statement. “It can be harmonically and melodically interesting—for me, this type of music is very fulfilling.”
Schlossberg has focused his career on playing, arranging and composing Jewish music; however, he also presents themed programs featuring Broadway show tunes, jazz standards and his original material at community events throughout the area.
He will share his Broadway favorites from 2-3:15 p.m. Nov. 19 at the East Brunswick Library, Civic Center Drive.
Known affectionately as “Piano Dave” to his audiences and choir members, Schlossberg has been playing piano since he was 5. After graduating from East Brunswick High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in piano performance at The College of New Jersey in 2006.
He is the accompanist for many groups including the acclaimed New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble; Makhelat Hamercaz, the Jewish Choir of Central New Jersey; Kol Dodi, the Jewish Community Choir of Metro-West; and Kol Emet Choir at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, where he serves as the Collaborative Keyboard Artist for all services, concerts and special events.
Schlossberg also is musical director for the Monroe Township Chorus, and the Monroe-based Concordia Chorale, as well as co-director of the Stonebridge Singers of Montgomery. He serves as musical director for the Musical Theatre Program of Middlesex County Arts Middle School. Dave is also a founding member of Tsu Fil Duvids (“Too Many Daves”), a Klezmer band out of Highland Park.
“I am grateful that this competition helps me share the beauty of Jewish liturgical music with the world— one of the reasons I created the album,” he said in the statement. “At the end of the day, however, I want people to experience a sense of peace through my music. If these melodies achieve this, I feel fulfilled.”
More information on Schlossberg can be found at daveschlossberg.com
