Maestro Matthew Lazar is the catalyst and leading force of the Jewish choral movement in North America today. He is Founder & Director of the  Zamir Choral Foundation and has created the North American Jewish Choral Festival; Hazamir: the International Jewish High School Choir; the National Jewish Chorale; the SELAH Vocal Ensemble; the Mantua Singers; and SHIRAH, the largest independent Jewish choral society in the United States. He has directed the Zamir Chorale since 1972.

Maestro Lazar has recently been acknowledged by the New York Times for his vision and leadership in presenting the music of Salamone Rossi in the first fesitival and conference of this great master's music. Maestro Lazar has been praised by the New York Times, along with his "expert ensemble" for performances of the music of Salamone Rossi, and by the Chicago Tribune as an "expert director" for a program he conducted for the Chicago Symphony's World Music Series. He has prepared choruses for Masetros Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Giulini and Daniel Barenboim, and has appeared as guest conductor of the El Paso Symphony, the Milwaukee Chamber Symphony, the Ra'anana Symphony and at the Ravinia Music Festival. Last season Mr. Lazar conducted the American Symphony Orchestra in Lincoln Center in a program of 20th century American Jewish music, as well as the New York premiere of Charles Osborne's "Souls on Fire" also in Lincoln Center with chorus, orchestra, and Leonard Nimoy narrating.

Maestro Lazar regularly appears with the great cantors of our generation. He has been presenting programs at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and other major concert halls in the United States and Israel for three decades.

Maestro Lazar has served on the faculties of Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and is a frequent lecturer and scholar-in-residence in communities and universities across the United States. His recordings include "Birthday of the World" I & II and "A Taste of Eternity" I & II with The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble and several "Chante Mystique" recordings including "Songs for Jerusalem" featuring a special narration by Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel.