Susan Gaeta sings for her lectures.
The musician will bring audience members on "A Sephardic Musical Journey" Monday when she takes the stage for the Shaol Pozez Memorial Lectureship Series, offered through the University of Arizona Center for Judaic Studies.
Generally, the lecturers through this series are very serious, non-singing folks. Gaeta is very serious, but it would be a shame to keep her gorgeous singing voice quiet.
So what she plans to do is talk about her expertise: music of the Sephardic Jewish tradition. And then she'll give musical examples.
Gaeta was mentored by Flory Jagoda, a Bosnian who came here as a World War II bride and became well-known for her versions of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) songs.
Under Jagoda's guidance, Gaeta was taught songs that had long been in Jagoda's family.
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"I had been singing with Flory for several years, but our formal master-apprentice relationship deepened my understanding of this unique music and my dedication to preserve it for future generations," Gaeta said in a press release.
Sephardic music's origins can be found among Jews in pre-medieval Spain.
In the 15th century, Jews were forced out of the country and fled to places including Portugal, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Greece. They took their music with them, and it subsequently picked up influences from their new home countries.
"Not only are they beautiful songs, but in many ways they serve as the oral history of Sephardic Jews," Gaeta said in the release.
Gaeta's first solo album, "From Her Nona's Drawer," is now available. She tours as a soloist and, at times, with Jagoda.
If you go
Susan Gaeta: "A Sephardic Musical Journey"
• Presented by: University of Arizona's Arizona Center for Judaic Studies, as part of the Shaol Pozez Memorial Lectureship Series.
• When: 7 p.m. Monday.
• Where: Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road.
• Cost: Free.
• Information: 626-5758.
