This article appeared in the September 20, 2013 Jewish Advocate (North Shore edition).

Peabody teen shines as a soloist, reaches for potential

by Susie Davidson

Special to the Advocate

Lauren Sliva would like to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering, but she's got plenty of chemistry going already.

You might have seen this 11^th grade Peabody Veterans Memorial High School honor student behind a tenor sax in the its Concert Band, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, or the alto sax at one of the numerous gigs of the all-teen Klezmer/contemporary music band Sababa. Or instead, behind the counter at Fresh Clean Dry Cleaner on Lowell Street. Or at the Marblehead JCC as a summer Jewish Teen Intern over the past three years, or perhaps at North Shore Teen Initiative's programs, including Jam Space and Rock Fest? How about playing in the Ruach Band at Temple Beth Shalom in Peabody?

And this past July, also at Masada, the Kotel, and in Tel Aviv as part of the Lappin Foundation's Youth to Israel trip. All this, and she's not even 17 (that achievement comes later this month).

School ended late this spring, and in July, she was tired and unenthused about going. But she surprised herself by making friends while enjoying and absorbing the culture. “Every night in my Jerusalem hotel room, my new friends and I would stay up late and talk about fun girl things,” she recalled in her post-trip essay.

“Going into this trip, I figured that I would not make many friends since my interests are not generally that of a 16-year-old,” she wrote. But she soon found that people very much enjoyed her presence. “Apparently honesty and creativity is a good thing,” she wrote.

“Y2I taught me that there are many people out there that are very much like me, and that they are not hard to find....I also learned through my friends that I am naturally a strong leader. I can be an outgoing and positive person when the opportunity arises, and being around my new friends in an unfamiliar setting gave me the chance to do so. All of these factors helped me to appreciate and realize who I am and what I can be.” She expressed her thanks to the Lappin Foundation as well as the Jewish community of the North Shore for the funding which made the trip possible every year. “This trip is what you make it, and I made it an unforgettable, life changing experience,” she wrote.

Since returning, she has resumed her active schedule, especially in Sababa. “As music director, I have a front row seat to each of the band members' musical and interpersonal skills, as well as some of the musical challenges that the teens encounter as part of a high level band,” said Rick Sokolow. The band, he explained, is made up of teens from the North Shore. “Every one of them is a very fine musician, but they have not reached their full musical potential. My hope is that they will each be able to improve their individual performance skills and their abilities to play with others in a band and to connect with their audience. Lauren has done all of this,” he said.

Sababa, which means “Awesome” in Hebrew, was founded by Peabody High senior Sam Feinstein, who had attended the BIMA Program at Brandeis over the past two summers. In Sababa, he performs vocals and plays bass guitar and piano/keyboard. Sokolow's daughters, 17-year-old Amy (lead vocals and guitar), and 15-year-old Janna (vocals and keyboard) also play in the band. Drummer Gabe Goldman, who is only 12, rounds out the quartet, which practices on Sundays in Feinstein's basement.

“As the featured instrumentalist in the band, we are looking to Lauren to carry the instrumental solos in the songs,” said Sokolow. “She has risen to this challenge.” At first, he explained, her skills at soloing were somewhat limited, and she readily embraced Sokolow's coaching. “But she didn't stop there,” he said. “She sought out a saxophone teacher who could help her with the techniques and tricks that every improviser needs, and these lessons have helped her to become a skilled soloist.”

Sokolow, who double majored in music and economics at Tufts University, has the expertise to know. A musician and songwriter, he has been in many Boston-area bands. He co-wrote a song, "Just Smile," that appears in a national TV commercial for Vanity Fair napkins. Other of his songs have appeared in national and regional television programs. He is currently the executive producer and a principal songwriter of the debut album by American Idol finalist Erika Van Pelt.

Sliva also received some coaching from her mom, Amy Barruw Sliva. “In 5th grade, when Lauren first began playing the alto saxophone, she wanted to give it up because it was a bit difficult and she was not sure if she liked it very much,” she recalled, telling the Advocate that she convinced her daughter to stick with it. “She was invited to join the school's Honors Band that same year, so obviously her teacher thought she had potential. Since then, Lauren has enjoyed and excelled at playing the saxophone,” she said. Following the Peabody School Band Program, she began playing tenor sax in the The Higgins Middle School Jazz Band during grades 7 and 8, and continued playing the instrument in high school. Lauren also plays in Temple Beth Shalom's Ruach Band, which is led by Cantor Jeri Robins and plays at certain Religious School Class Led Services and Festival and Celebration Services. Sababa drummer Goldman also plays drums for the Ruach Band.

Barruw-Sliva served as President of Temple Beth Shalom for three years, until June of 2012. “Lauren grew up seeing me in my role as Board Member and Temple President,” she said. She attended the Temple's Preschool and Religious School, as well as preconfirmation, and was confirmed this past May. “Lauren volunteers in our 2nd Grade Religious School class every Sunday morning, and has for the past three years,” said her mom.

As for the band, she, as well as the other parents, support it wholeheartedly. “We are certainly the band's biggest fans,” she said. “These students are each certainly talented musicians; however, they are great kids who are doing what they love to do. I think people are amazed at the quality of their performances and the joy and comfort of the students in the band.”

Upcoming shows include Sept. 29 at the Shillman House Independent Living Community in Framingham; October 26 at Temple Emmanuel, in Chelsea; November 24 at Latkepalooza, Aviv Centers for Living in Peabody; and the Topsfield Fair (date TBA).

“Sababa is trying to accomplish is to engage and entertain their audience, to improve their musical skills and vocabulary, and to put on a professional level show every time out,” said Sokolow.

Barruw-Sliva, as well as younger sister Ashley, is proud of her teen's musical accomplishments. “I feel at this point in Lauren's life, Judaism holds a special place in her heart that she expresses through her music; music makes sense to her,” said her mom. “But I am equally impressed with how she explores so many areas of interest while developing and maintaining the many friendships she's made along the way.”

For information on Sababa, please visit www.klezmersababa.com. Sokolow's website is www.richsokolowmusic.com.