Kaskeset

Literally translated, Kaskeset means "fish scales". The Bible states that a fish must have fins and scales to be Kosher. Get it? Fish scales? ... Music scales? ... Kosher? ... Jewish? ...

Kaskeset is (SUNY) Binghamton University's Jewish A Cappella Group. The group was founded in 1996 as an offshoot and subcharter of Hillel/The Jewish Student Union of Binghamton University. Since then, the group has become one of the nation's premiere Jewish groups. A student body favorite, Kaskeset has performed in numerous events on the Binghamton University campus, as well as at temples, community centers, weddings and festivals far and wide.

Kaskeset has performed for audiences far and wide including on the Binghamton campus, as well as synagogues throughout the metropolitan area, at community centers, weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs and many different types of festivals.

Kaskeset offers an extensive repertoire of music addressing or pertaining to Judaism and its values, sung in Hebrew, Yiddish and English. The spectrum includes choral works, all-out rock, liturgy, rock/pop, Israeli, humor, and everything in-between.

Everything is done a cappella, meaning singing without accompaniment, instrumental or otherwise. The group produces four- to even fourteen-part harmonies with intricate musical arrangements to create a "vocal band" ambiance with the sound of an actual band using only the human voice and body. The style is unique from any type of music one will experience.

For celebrations, fundraisers and the like, the group can present a cut-and-dry performance of a given amount of time or music, accompanied by educational prefaces and excerpts to explain the songs if so desired.
A list of songs in our repertoire is available by contacting the group, and set lists are customizable. We are open to letting guest vocalists "sit in" with the group if they know a song or two of ours.
For a more educational experience for a school or performance group, Kaskeset offers a tailor-made performance supplemented by other materials as desired.
We offer a question-and-answer session in which students can ask questions about Judaism, singing, performing a cappella, and/or the college experience.
We are willing to provide critiques and input on your choral or a cappella group as best we can from our experience.
We also provide the opportunity for students to sing a cappella. Our group divides into committees that take groups of students aside, teach them one of our easier numbers and other pointers about a cappella, and then return to the main venue to hold a competition between the makeshift student a cappella groups.
For those specifically interested in a cappella and a more enriched educational experience, we also offer workshops and classes featuring the group on such topics as arranging, teaching, interpersonal and group dynamics, singing and vocal technique, blending, vocal percussion, music theory, religious topics and Jewish issues.

All of Kaskeset's performances include whatever aspects and songs are requested by the party holding the event. We are very flexible.

If you or your organization is interested in more information about Kaskeset or booking the group for your upcoming event, get in touch with a member of our executive board.