Susan Gaeta
Teacher
The Nysmith School
Herndon, Virginia
Age: 61
Nominated by: Herself
Song: “La Orasion de la Mujer” (“The Woman’s Prayer”), Flory Jagoda
I sing Sephardic music and inspire listeners to remember — through a musical journey — the deep roots of our collective past. The music is traditional, so I carefully follow the nuances: Sephardim have a history of adopting rhythms and melodies of wherever they emigrated from, which encourages me to feel a new heartbeat of musical interpretation; to sing soulfully and from within, and to feel true to the source. I see myself as a preservationist, an interpreter and a creative bridge between the traditional music and its future.
I share music that celebrates a meaningful story that many have not heard before. It enriches those who hear it, and it comes from the voices and hearts of the women who carried the tradition before me. It’s a rich musical inheritance, and I am dedicated to making it vibrant and alive in today’s world. — Susan Gaeta
INFLUENCES: My primary influence has been Flory Jagoda, my mentor and friend. She is an extraordinary singer, composer and storyteller, often referred to as “The Keeper of the Flame” of Sephardic music. Rachel Hersh Epstein, the cantor of Adat Shalom, has been a joy to learn from and listen to, and I appreciate her invitations to teach and sing together. And my parents, Frances and Philip Feltman, who have instilled in me a love for the Jewish people, our music and our culture.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
