WHAT IS TIZMORET?

Tizmoret is a professional Jewish a cappella group based at Queens College.

Musically directed by Daniel Henkin since 1996, this nationally-acclaimed group draws singers from all over the New York City area, and continues to take Jewish collegiate a cappella to the next level, performing classic Jewish melodies, American pop music and contemporary Israeli tunes across the country!

And the word “Tizmoret” (pronounced teez-MOH-ret) is the Hebrew word for band or orchestra—makes sense, right?

Tizmoret has produced eight full-length albums as well as two EPs. They have performed for countless B’nei-Mitzvot and synagogues, college campuses, at Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, and various music festivals across the Eastern United States. Tizmoret has a growing list of accolades: they won the fifth-annual Long Island College A Cappella Challenge in 2010, and won Kol HaOlam, (the National Jewish Collegiate A Cappella Competition) in 2011, 2012, and 2015. They performed in Italy at a New Year’s party, at the annual White House Hanukkah party in 2014 and 2019, and at the Mayo Performing Arts Center as part of Disney's D-capella. In 2024, they competed in the NY Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, and recently guest-performed at the first-annual Northeast Hillel A Cappella Competition (NHAC) in 2025.

WHO IS TIZMORET?

MUSIC DIRECTOR

DANIEL HENKIN

has, for over 35 years, conducted Jewish and secular choirs for children, teenagers, and adults, and has produced more than a dozen albums of Jewish and secular choral music. He has directed ensembles at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher and Merkin Halls. As an arranger and conductor, Daniel Henkin has helped pioneer the contemporary Jewish a cappella movement today. His choral arrangements are performed by ensembles throughout North America and Israel and have shaped the sound and style of this generation’s Jewish a cappella choirs. Daniel Henkin received his BA in Music and Philosophy from Columbia University and his Masters degree in Music Composition from Indiana University’s School of Music. He has taught music at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, the Yeshivah of Flatbush and the Ramaz Upper School. He was also one of three recipients of the Covenant Award in 2016!

SOPRANOS

  • Talia Leifer

    7th Season
    PRESIDENT

  • Fanni Tábori

    6th Season
    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Michal Mari

    2nd Season

  • Talia Leifer is a senior at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter and is returning for her fourth year in Tizmoret! Both of her parents are singers, so she has been singing her entire life. She took on musical theatre growing up but recently has also started songwriting. Talia resides mostly in Great Neck, Long Island, and in her free time, she likes to re-watch Friends and New Girl (or just enjoy a nice nap). She survives on iced coffee—you’ll rarely see her in the morning without one! Talia is a classically-trained singer, and was the president of her high school choir/chamber choir under the rule of none other than Daniel Henkin himself. She is majoring in psychology with a minor in music. She is super excited to continue her Tizmoret journey!!!

  • Fanni Tábori is a senior at Yeshiva University studying Political Science and History in the pre-law department. She grew up in Budapest, Hungary, which has allowed her to travel around Europe and experience all its different cultures. She has always had a strong passion for music, especially by singing and playing instruments (violin, piano and flute!). After graduating college, Fanni plans to attend law school, hoping to become a lawyer one day!

  • Michal Mari is a sophomore at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter, studying political science and international relations, and is hoping to pursue a career in advocacy/diplomacy. Michal began her involvement in musical theater in elementary school, and since has been in a multitude of productions in schools, camps, and community theater groups. A cappella is a new style for her, so she's really excited to start her journey with Tizmoret!

ALTOS

  • Eliana Birman

    5th Season
    JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT

  • Hayley Goldberg

    4th Season

  • Kayla Bastomski

    2nd Season

  • Eliana Birman is a junior at Barnard College and this is her third year in Tizmoret. Eliana is studying Cognitive Science and Music, and plans on pursuing a career in Speech-Language Pathology. She is from Teaneck, NJ (claaaaassic). Her free time is spent singing, napping, playing with dogs, eating GF/DF goodies, and learning random facts about topics that don’t mean anything to most people. Eliana has always loved Jewish music and is forever grateful for the journey Tizmoret has taken her on.

  • Hayley is very excited to get started with Tizmoret! She has been involved with choir and theatre since long before she could talk or walk. Hayley is a senior at Stern College for Women where she is studying childhood education and music. When she’s not on stage performing, Hayley can be found practicing or just singing for fun! (Feel free to send some music recs because her playlist needs an upgrade!)

  • Kayla is a sophomore studying physics and a new member of the group. She grew up in Los Angeles, where she performed with various groups, including the Jewish Women’s Repertory Company. She is very excited to start with Tizmoret! Outside of acapella, she plays guitar and occasionally attends class.

TENORS

  • Noam Weinstock

    9th Season
    VOCAL PERCUSSIONIST

  • Matan Chananashvili

    5th Season

  • Zach Steinfeld

    3rd Season
    WEB/GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER

  • Noam Weinstock lives in Marine Park, Brooklyn. He recently graduated from Brooklyn College, where, as a part of the Macaulay program, he studied Applied Math and Theatre. Free time in his universe is usually spent playing drums on anything he can find, tossing items around like frisbees, and making google sheets for things that never needed them. When he is not singing with his Tizmoret family, he loves listening to the best music in the world—listen with him here! He is interested in everything and wants to learn more, so come on over and be a friend!

  • Matan Chananashvili is a graduate from Rutgers University where he studied the art of maths. He is currently working as an actuary. What is that? Good question. He enjoys doing fun math problems and logic puzzles, spending time with his family and friends, learning, exploring random things, anything with music, and especially singing!

  • Zach Steinfeld is a sophomore at Brooklyn College, studying Computer Science. He liked to sing from a young age, but never sang very well until high school. There, he delved deep down into the rabbit hole that is musical theatre and a cappella. Now in college, he continues to seek that same musical component to his life, which is why he’s here!

BASSES

  • Jacob Nussbaum

    5th Season
    VOCAL PERCUSSIONIST

  • Jacob Nussbaum is a junior at Brooklyn College. He found his love for music when he joined the Yeshivah of Flatbush high school chamber choir, where he learned music theory and how to sing with others. During his senior year, he started learning how to produce music, and he has been learning ever since!