Kol Truah is a non-denominational choir affiliated with Congregation Netivot Shalom of Berkeley, Callifornia. Kol Truah is dedicated to the preservation, dissemination, and performance of Jewish music for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of the Jewish community in the Bay Area, and the community at large.

In 1974, Sandy Schneider, z''l, a Berkeley musician, began rehearsal of a Bay Area Jewish chorus, Kol Truah. His goal was to create a professional choir, singing Jewish music from the 15th - 20th centuries. Until 1977, the group sang all over northern California, at synagogues, East Bay Israeli Independence Day celebrations, wherever they were invited. In 1977, the choir disbanded and the choir music folders were boxed up.

After Sandy's death, his widow, Helen, entrusted Cantor Sawyer with the boxed up music, hoping that Kol Truah would sing again. Auditions were announced and in 2004, Kol Truah began singing again. Since its revival, Kol Truah has sung many concerts, private parties (yes, we are for hire), the Bay Area Zimriyah, St. Joseph Basilica, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Temple Israel in Alameda, and at its new home, Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, California.

The group performed at the Congregation Netivot Shalom Music Festival in Berkeley on Saturday, February 21, 2009 Please click “music” to hear the pieces we performed.

Music Director, Cantor Pamela Sawyer.
Vocal Coach and Accompanist, Eleanor Cohen.

Gary Appell
Marlene Dines
Lee Feinstein
Barry Groody
Jenny Groody
Miriam Grosman
Malka Helfman
Kathleen Kennedy
Lisa Levine
Carrie Michaels
Roderick Murray
Peggy Ritchie
Margaret Rowland
Susan Simpson
Daniel Sterling
Bill Stewart