Makela honored to perform at Israeli Embassy Celebration

Makela members Becky and Jenni
chatting before the event.

Recently Makela had the privilege of performing the U.S. and Israeli national anthems (see the video here) at the Israeli Embassy's Annual Independence Day Celebration.  The event took place at the beautiful Mellon Auditorium near the Capitol Mall. About 1,000 people were in attendance.  Speakers included Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren and the Honorable Nancy Pelosi.

"I have to say, it was really cool to be doing our national anthem three feet from Minority Leader Pelosi.  I was so happy we got to be part of such an unforgettable ceremony." -- Noah (tenor)

Yom Ha'atzmaut commemorates the signing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Israel's Chief Rabbinate has declared Yom Ha'atzmaut an official Jewish holiday and it is celebrated around the world.  A large yearly celebration in Jerusalem includes the ceremonial lighting of twelve torches representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  There was a strong international presence among the attendees at the embassy event, including political and military leaders from many different countries, Israel and the U.S. 

Members Emily, Emerald, Noah, and Becky
enjoying food and libations before our performance.

The venue was fantastic.  It was a gorgeous, Baroque style space with lots of natural lighting.  Guests enjoyed Mediterranean fare including dolmas, hummus, chocolate covered halva and pastas and salads made with flavorful olive oil. The event also featured a selection of Israeli wines.  Overall the atmosphere was friendly, festive and proud.  We were thrilled to be a part of it.

From a music and performance perspective we were also thrilled.  The stage setup was beautiful, and so were the backstage accommodations.  We enjoyed having the opportunity to work with a sound technician before the event to make sure that our music would be balanced and heard correctly throughout the large space.  During the performance itself our audience was appreciative and attentive.  We even heard some audience members singing along to our rendition of Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem.  Audience engagement is always very encouraging, especially at an event that isn't really a concert but an interactive ceremony where individuals come together in shared appreciation for something they love.

The stage was beautifully lit and adorned.

All in all, this event was a highly memorable experience and we feel both honored and lucky that we were invited to perform.  It reminds us of how great it is to be in D.C. where events like these take place and how meaningful it is to be part of a global Jewish community that is full of vibrant international diversity.

The green room in this case was actually green. 
Makela's members gathered backstage behind a projector
screen to watch Ambassador Oren address the audience.

Jenni, Emerald and Dan.

Everyone gathered back stage before going on.