Kol Sasson to perform at the White House

To get the Obama administration into the holiday spirit, Kol Sasson, a Jewish a cappella group at this university, is performing for the president Wednesday in the annual White House Hanukkah reception.

One of the multiple Jewish a cappella ensembles at this university, Kol Sasson is a coed group of 16 members started in 1997 — the first of its kind at the university. The group will perform for 550 of President Barack Obama's guests at the event. Kol Sasson performed at the same event in 2003.

"It was a dream this semester," Kol Sasson President Josh Aizen said. "Earlier in the semester, we always joked about getting a gig at the White House. That was a our claim to fame in 2003, so it's good to know we're back on top."

Earlier this semester, Hillel Executive Director Ari Israel, who knows a White House staffer, mentioned Kol Sasson could be performers for the reception. Due to the group's prominence on YouTube and other social networking sites, the White House took notice, Kol Sasson Vice President Daniel Rabin said.

Kol Sasson is the only performance at the reception.

"I'm extremely excited about going [to the White House]," Rabin said. "I'm happy for the whole group, too. I guess they liked what they saw on YouTube and they liked what we did in the past."

Even though the group was asked to sing mostly English songs, the group plans to sing a wide range of material — from Marvin Gaye to traditional Hanukkah songs and even a Billy Joel medley.

Kol Sasson is no stranger to big performances. In November, the group performed for the Jewish Federations of North America and the United Jewish Communities General Assembly alongside political satire troupe the Capitol Steps and Jewish singer Elliott Yamin.

"It's pretty nice that we get to go to the White House and spread our music," Aizen said. "Finals definitely come second to this."

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