Our Musicians

Music is an integral part of the Shabbat worship services at Bet Alef. Through melody and chant we support celebration, contemplation, and rejuvenation. With opportunity to listen and opportunity to sing together, music at Bet Alef is an important part of how community is built and worship is enhanced.

Bet Alef enjoys the regular talents of professional and volunteer musicians. In addition to our “regulars” we are frequently joined by community members who choose to share their musical gifts with us.

About Our Musicians:

Shira Firestone, Music Director
Shira Firestone has been a member of Bet Alef for 13 years. She began singing at Bet Alef with the ensemble, Tiferet in 2004, and joined the music department as a soloist in 2005. Shira has enjoyed a regular role as guest singer at other congregations such as Center for Spiritual Living, Amazing Grace, Seattle Unity, United Methodist Church of DesMoins, and others.

Jal Feldman, Piano
Jal Feldman’s musical career was launched when he received a piano for his first birthday. He has been hitting the keys ever since, amassing a repertoire of hundreds of pop songs, show tunes, and standards, as well as classical works. Jal has been the pianist at Bet Alef since 1996 and plays for weekly services and concerts at the Center for Spiritual Living. He offers private piano instruction to children utilizing the Suzuki method of music training and recently joined the faculty of the Music Center of the Northwest. He was the founder, leader and keyboard player of The Jal Feldman Groups, a comprehensive music entertainment service, performing at wedding ceremonies, receptions, parties, conventions and banquets.

Dianna Rose, Vocals
Dianna Rose has been a member of Bet Alef since 2001. Her early musical training (piano, voice, percussion) eventually led her to a career in radio, in Los Angeles and Seattle (where she was Music Director and on-air at Smooth Jazz KWJZ for 12 years). She is currently on-air at two internet radio stations, and has a voice-over business. Dianna is also a Therapeutic Sound Consultant,having completed a two-year training at the Open Ear Center on Bainbridge Island, WA. Plus she’s an Acutonics (tuning forks) Level I practitioner, and a trained provider with the Strong Institute (rhythmic entrainment therapy).

Celia Curran, Vocals
Celia has been singing and performing in musical theater since she was 8 yearsold. She moved on to study opera and graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 2005. Since moving back to Seattle in 2008, she has become a featured soloist both at Bet Alef and with the Seattle Jewish Chorale. She also loves tosing with her rock and roll cover band, Bad Latitude.

Paul Bruno, Guitar and Vocals
Paul has been a member of Bet Alef since 2001 and has always enjoyed the BA Music Program. He was given the opportunity to participate in the program in March 2009 and have been adding guitar and voice to Bet Alef services ever since. Paul has an informal music background, performing in bands from 1964-1968. In between then and now, he worked in the music industry from 1974-1983. From 1984 to the present, Paul has worked at Apple Computer, Compaq Corporation, Cisco Systems and currently Dimension Data, a global technology service organization. Paul and his wife April live in Sammamish and have two children, Sarah 27 and Nick 25.