Music Directors
Co-Coordinators of Ruach
Kathy and Paul Storfer
Both Kathy and Paul Storfer have worked in the field of Jewish music for nearly 25 years. For the past two years, Kathy has been the proud conductor for Kolot Sinai, the adult volunteer choir of Temple Sinai. Kathy currently serves as the Musical Director for the Jewish Family Congregation, her home temple, in South Salem, NY where she conducts the choir, fills in for her Cantor on occasion as Soloist, and works with the B'nai Mitzvah class. Paul works as a lead musician (guitar and percussionist), singer, and back-up conductor.
Kathy is currently a Board member for the Guild of Temple Musicians, an affiliate of the American Conference of Cantors, dedicated to bringing education and training to lay musicians. Singing a new version of "V'haeir Eneinu" by composer Michael Horwitz, she is featured as an artist in the new "Shabbat Anthology VI" published by Transcontinental Music and on Oysongs, the online ITunes for Jewish Music.
Together, Kathy and Paul often sing and perform with the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus, one of Pete Seeger's singing groups, helping to bring awareness to the environment and the Hudson River. The group was recently featured in "Peter Yarrow's Sing-Along Special" which aired on PBS.
The Storfers are also deeply involved in interfaith work and annually, take part in sharing the leadership of a large, inter-denominational choir during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend celebrations at the Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills, NY. They are founding members of northern Westchester's Unity Made Visible, a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative. Its goal is to provide education and opportunities for fellowship between members of all faiths within the community
Barbara Orwick
Barbara Orwick earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattanville College in 1983 and has been making music in Westchester and Fairfield Counties ever since. As a piano accompanist, she has worked throughout the area for various schools, churches, community choirs, singers, instrumentalists and theater organizations.
Barbara has been with the Jewish Family Congregation in South Salem, NY, for over 20 years. She plays for all choir rehearsals and services during which the choir performs, and has done some arranging for the group over the years.
Other long term associations include 15+ years of musical direction and accompanying for the Play Group Theatre, a children's theater organization based in White Plains. During her tenure with this group Barbara has been part of over 50 shows, including several for which she composed the music. She is currently keyboard player and vocalist for a classic rock band known as SR2 (formerly Shake, Rabbis and Roll). She accompanies a group called Poperatic, a non-profit group of singers who perform at area nursing homes and other functions. And, years ago, she played background music at Galangal, a Thai restaurant in Stamford.
By day, Barbara can be found in the Accounting/Finance department at Taro Pharmaceuticals in Hawthorne, NY, where she handles Payroll and other functions. She has lived in Stamford for five years with her husband, Steve
