Songleader Boot Camp in St. Louis

Weber's Music Program continues to provide unparalleled student experiences with its recent trip to St. Louis for the 15th annual Songleader Boot Camp (SLBC). Music Program Director Drew Cohen and Music Teacher Michael Levine accompanied Jaren Wolff, Beny Leibowitz, and Ezra Heller to this premier Jewish music gathering, which attracts around 450 participants and features an all-star cast of musicians and teachers.

SLBC, held at the JCC in St. Louis and overseen by Rick and Elisa Recht, is renowned for being the epicenter of Jewish music in North America. Weber students immersed themselves in intensive sessions led by Jewish music artists and respected educators, which covered a broad range of topics, including prayer, antisemitism, the music business, and branding, all while nurturing leadership qualities.

The conference also brought together several musicians who have participated in Weber's Music Program through its Visiting Artist Series, initiated in 2022. Former artists-in-residence Billy Jonas, Eliana Light, Charlie Kramer, Jacob Spike Kraus, Chava Mirel, and Yosef Goldman, all members of the SLBC faculty, led various workshops and sessions, once again providing our students with unique opportunities to engage with musical excellence firsthand. Highlighting the talent within the Weber community, Beny and Ezra played as instrumentalists for a group performance at the conference, while Mr. Cohen and Mr. Levine joined Eliana Light for a musical presentation as part of the faculty showcase.

Reflecting on the trip, Drew Cohen shared, "SLBC speaks directly to the heart of Weber’s Music Program – nurturing leadership through artistic expression. This experience is just one of many ways our students can immerse themselves in Jewish music, learn from some of the best in the field, and bring back inspiration and knowledge to their peers.