HASC Concert

The HASC Concert, also known as A Time for Music, is an annual concert benefiting Camp HASC, a summer camp for children with special needs. Established in 1988, the concert is a prominent event within the Jewish music community.

History

Camp HASC was established in 1963 by Rabbi Max and Blanche Kahn. It offers therapeutic, medical, and educational services to its campers. It offers a combination of academic and recreational activities, supported by a team of staff and medical professionals.

The inaugural HASC concert took place on January 17, 1988. Sheya Mendlowitz conceived the concert after visiting Camp HASC in the 1980s and learning about the camp's financial difficulties. The first concert was held at the Lincoln Center. The concert has been held annually since and has become a significant fundraising event for the camp.

Format

The concert takes place in January and features a lineup of Jewish musical artists. Past performers have included Avraham Fried, Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, and Benny Friedman. The performers are typically not announced in advance.

The concert is typically held at venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The program includes musical performances, duets, and sometimes theatrical presentations.

The concerts were previously released on DVD. Starting with A Time For Music 31, a livestream was offered instead of a DVD release.

Production

Sheya Mendlowitz produced the concert for its first thirty years. Eli Gerstner produced it from 2016 to 2022, followed by Shloime Steinmetz from 2023.

The concert was originally directed for the first thirty years by Yisroel Lamm, conducting the Neginah Orchestra. Following his retirement, various conductors participated, sometimes several in one show, including Yoeli Dikman, Rafi Grady, Yuval Stupel, Tzvi Blumenfeld of Freilach Band, and Mendy Hershkowitz.

The concert is hosted by Nachum Segal, who succeeded the original host, Zale Newman.

Chaim Tutio has been the official concert photographer since 2016, succeeding Stan Weiss.