About fifteen years ago, I sought out Adrienne after having heard her Yiddish song interpretations on the Partisans of Vilna CD. I was not a Yiddish speaker and had only recently become interested in learning more about the genre. I began to search for someone to study with. Shortly thereafter, I received an Artist Fellowship from the NJ State Council on the Arts to study Yiddish song with Adrienne. I was her Apprentice; she, my Mentor. We studied together formally for two years. That began a deeply enriching long-term relationship with a woman I considered not only my mentor, but my friend. And Adrienne always made me feel valued as a musicologist and composer. Our encounters often were less about actual singing and more about shmoozing. We laughed a lot. Adrienne encouraged me to pursue my interest in Yiddish and Yiddish song in a number of ways. I studied language at the Workmen's Circle; I attended the Columbia Winreich program; I began to perform Yiddish songs as part of my pulpit job and general Jewish music performance repertoire. Ultimately I began to research the Yiddish Art Songs of Lazar Weiner, as well as his poets, as a musicologist. All of this was completely inspired by this single amazing woman, Adrienne Cooper. I am feeling a complete void in my heart having only today heard of Adrienne's passing. I'd been away from New York and out of touch with folks since last summer. I did not know about Adrienne's illness. And I only learned of her passing today. Thus, I did not have the privilege of being present at the event at Anshe Chesed and feel sorely cheated. I thank all of you who have written so eloquently about Adrienne, her life, and your own relationships with her. It has deepened my own understanding of what a truly exceptional and remarkable human being - a woman's woman - we have lost. Zichrona l'veracha.
About fifteen years ago, I sought out Adrienne after having heard her Yiddish song interpretations on the Partisans of Vilna CD. I was not a Yiddish speaker and had only recently become interested in learning more about the genre. I began to search for someone to study with. Shortly thereafter, I received an Artist Fellowship from the NJ State Council on the Arts to study Yiddish song with Adrienne. I was her Apprentice; she, my Mentor. We studied together formally for two years. That began a deeply enriching long-term relationship with a woman I considered not only my mentor, but my friend. And Adrienne always made me feel valued as a musicologist and composer. Our encounters often were less about actual singing and more about shmoozing. We laughed a lot. Adrienne encouraged me to pursue my interest in Yiddish and Yiddish song in a number of ways. I studied language at the Workmen's Circle; I attended the Columbia Winreich program; I began to perform Yiddish songs as part of my pulpit job and general Jewish music performance repertoire. Ultimately I began to research the Yiddish Art Songs of Lazar Weiner, as well as his poets, as a musicologist. All of this was completely inspired by this single amazing woman, Adrienne Cooper. I am feeling a complete void in my heart having only today heard of Adrienne's passing. I'd been away from New York and out of touch with folks since last summer. I did not know about Adrienne's illness. And I only learned of her passing today. Thus, I did not have the privilege of being present at the event at Anshe Chesed and feel sorely cheated. I thank all of you who have written so eloquently about Adrienne, her life, and your own relationships with her. It has deepened my own understanding of what a truly exceptional and remarkable human being - a woman's woman - we have lost. Zichrona l'veracha.