Pianist wows Jewish center crowd

The shul’s “smorgasboard room” was converted into an intimate cabaret on Saturday, Dec. 12 for Biegel’s concert.

Tim Baker/Herald

Biegel, a renowned pianist, recording artist, composer and arranger, performed at the East Meadow Jewish Center.

Tim Baker/Herald

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East Meadow Jewish Center congregants and community members were wowed by a performance by renowned pianist, recording artist, composer and arranger, Jeffrey Biegel, last week.

EMJC leaders hosted Biegel, 54, of Lynbrook, for “Classical Music, Cupcakes and Candlelight” — a holiday concert and dessert bar. The event was held on Saturday, Dec. 12, which was the seventh night of Hanukkah this year.
The shul’s “smorgasboard room” was converted into an intimate cabaret, complete with comfortable, cocktail table seating. A Baby Grand piano was situated at the center of the room, where Biegel played an assortment of classical music numbers.

Biegel began taking piano lessons at age 7. But until he had a special surgery at age 3, Biegel could neither hear nor speak. The “reverse Beethoven” phenomenon explains his life in music, he noted, as he heard only vibrations during his formative years.

Biegel would go on to study at the Juilliard School with Adele Marcus, who was a pupil of Josef Lhevinne and Artur Schnabel, two acclaimed pianists. In addition to performing in piano recitals and competitions, he also began to write choral music.

Biegel started to apply his diverse interests into innovative projects. In 1997, he created and performed the first live audio/video recitals on the Internet from the historic Steinway Hall in New York City. One year later, he began his work as a pioneer of commissioning projects that join multiple orchestras by creating the largest consortium of orchestras for Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s “Millennium Fantasy,” which was played throughout the country.

But Biegel hasn’t only worked with instrumental outfits from across the United States and Europe. He’s also collaborated with choral groups and famous pop musicians like Keith Emerson and Neil Sedaka.

EMJC leaders have wanted to bring Biegel to the temple for a special event for quite some time, he said; he has relatives in the congregation. He selected pieces he thought the audience would enjoy, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Frédéric Chopin and George Gershwin classics.

At the conclusion of the performance, a dessert buffet was served.