Here are some little tidbits about the choir that I thought to share. 

1. That time the choir sang in English. In one of the last choral concerts ( “Shiro Vezimro”) directed by Seymour Silbemintz z’l, he added this piece, a ‘canon’ ( also known as a “round”,) that put the Psalm “Hinei MaTov” to a piece of classical music in a two-part round. There were English lyrics like:  

” A Canon is a Melody, you sing a line and you may find it continues endlessly, it may be sung in any key, it could be ‘C’ or even ‘B’, or if you like variety why don’t you try the key of ‘E’, or A or B, it just so happens we’re in  ‘G’ , which is a most delightful key, don’t you agree, the key of ‘G’, it is a most delightful key, or ‘A’ , how will our Canon sound in ‘A’. Hinei ma tov…’ 

2. That time the choir performance included a classical music interlude. There was a young student from YU in the choir circa 1985- Howie Hochster- and he was classically trained in clarinet. There was also the faithful choir veteran Bob Kosofsky who is a classically trained pianist. They played this. Concert Choir of KAJ 1985. Part 1 

4. The choir could sometimes come to someone’s home to cheer up a sick person. We did this once for Mr. Shlomovitz z’l. More recently they performed for the one-hundred-year-old fan, Mr. Koenigsburg z’l when he was in the Hebrew Home for the Aged.
5. The time a Sinatra cover was included at a concert. The famously funny and good-hearted Cantor Seymour Rockoff z’l – who put the words “Boro Park” to Sinatra’s signature ” New York, New York”- was the guest cantor at the concert in 1997. In honor of the occasion, he retrofitted his Yiddish hit “Boro Park” (from the original “Rechnitz Rejects” album, here ) and infused the concert with some comedy….a first! (Remember, the concerts were in Adar.) One attendee told me he felt uncomfortable since the Rav was (as always) in attendance watching the silliness.  

6. In that concert, a violinist (Stephanie Kurtzman of Riverdale) joined the accompaniment.  In two earlier concerts (83 and 85?) a drummer (local talent Rafi Adler) joined. At the annual dinners, the house orchestra can be heard accompanying as well. Then, there was a concert (1981?) where the choir sang Lewandowski’s Hallelukah. My father brought a large sizzle-ride cymbal. At the song’s crescendo, he reached for it and gave a surprise strike at the cymbal which took the audience by surprise and was a nice touch. (Maybe a cannon ala 1812 Overture would work there as well?) 
7. A moment of intense community pride. For many years Cantor Joseph Malovany accompanied the choir at concerts. At one concert in the 1980s, the choir performed Mombach’s famous seu sheorim which ends in a high alto reach for the cantor (“Hakovod SE-lah”, famously). At this particular concert, the adrenalin was running as the choir burst their way through the piece, finally approaching the “big moment”. As Malovany handily reached for that note (it’s in the lower part of his range), the audience was already on their feet in applause. Whistles and hearty applause take the song into its closing bars.  
8. The choir performs for a special retirement. At the breakfast for the retirement of long-time choir leader Mr. Nathan Weis z’l the choir performed two pieces. The first was the traditional (chasidic) pischu li, out of Hallel. Then before bentchin they belted out the Shir Hama’alos to the “Kel Adon” which was introduced to the community from Hamburg by Chazzan Frankel z’l. Of note, the choir made a small breakfast for my father’s retirement. My father requested they sing the standard community Shir Hamalos. And they did! 
9. There are pieces in the choir repertoire that were written by the director Mr. Seymour Silbermintz z’l specifically for the Breuer’s choir – in the style of the late great composers. Mr. Silbermintz has other songs he wrote over the years sing-along -style some of which have been performed at our concerts. 
10. In 1998 there were two unique songs that the choir learned. The first was ultimately scratched from the concert. It was called “Al Tashlicheini” and seems to have a modern edge to it. HERE is a recording that is corrupted and was from a rehearsal. Then there was a most unique Carribean-styled tune for Koh Ribon Olam written by the Shul’s beloved Shammos, Mr. Victor S. Perhaps it is mildly influenced by the Hispanic element in Wahington Heights. The choir did perform this at the concert, and Victor did the keyboard accompaniment, HERE. 
11. In more recent times, since many have left the neighborhood, the choir has not had concerts- but small appearances. In some of these, the director –Mr. Eric Freeman- has introduced unique pieces, including this one in Ladino.  And this one! Choir of KAJ Sings See The Conquering Hero Comes at Moriah Senior Center  
12. After many years of performing at our concerts, Chazan Malovani graced a concert in the mid-90s with the anthemic “Shir Hama’alos” (Ps. 128) as sung to Japhet’s specially composed tune. Chazan MAlovani added a lot of flair (too much?) to the piece, but it was warmly embraced. (Here at 1:20:00 here https://youtu.be/Rn7BsbhXlUU?si=jjC17NrSUZzKArhc
13. Have a memory or a tidbit to add? Let’s do a follow up…