Aminadav Aloni was born in Israel, and as a youth, he was renowned as a gifted mathematician,  athlete, chess champion and virtuoso pianist.  When he  came to the United States in the late 1940's, he pursued music, studied piano  at Juilliard, won numerous piano competitions, and settled in Los Angeles. Some time later, he began to compose for television and film and was  associated with many important singers on the jazz and popular scene. 

He first began to compose Jewish music as organist and music director at Valley Beth Shalom, when Cantor Samuel Fordis encouraged him to direct his genius towards a new path.  In the more than three decades which he spent at Valley Beth Shalom as composer-in-residence, he produced a prodigious library of important works of Jewish music, with over one hundred commissioned works from Cantors, synagogues and individuals across North America. Through Ami's efforts, The VBS Congregational Choir became known as the premiere volunteer synagogue choir in Los Angeles.  He accomplished this by involving them in first time performances of many of his works as well as those by other Los Angeles composers, taking them to sing at numerous synagogues in Southern California, engaging in joint concerts with university and church choirs in the region, where the VBS choir had the opportunity to work with some of the finest choir conductors in the region.  At the same time, he continued a busy life composing in his secular career.  Ami's energy and vision, along with several others, led to the founding of the Jewish Music Commission in 1982, which is dedicated to encouraging the composition and performance of new Jewish music and bringing this music to new audiences.

The great success of Ami's music is attributable to his profound understanding of Jewish liturgy, his great familiarity with all the sacred texts, and his devotion to Hebrew literature, classic and modern, prose and poetry.  His English lyrics reflect his gift of language even beyond his native tongue.  All of this is superimposed on impeccable, daring and sometimes outrageous musical writing, full of light, wit, dance and poignancy.  He was a passionate advocate of the best in music, secular and sacred.  Ami's compositions will remain as his legacy. 

The Valley Beth Shalom choir together with the Jewish Music Commission of Los Angeles are committed to answering the Aloni Family's request to create The Aminadav Aloni Music Foundation which will be dedicated to disseminating the music of Aminadav Aloni, developing music scholarships and sponsoring an annual concert. Contributions to the Foundation can be made care of the Jewish Music Commission and sent to the VBS office. (818-788-6000)

This article is the combined effort of Dr. Noreen Green, Music Director of Valley Beth Shalom and Dr. Richard Braun, Founder of the Jewish Music Commission