By Matan Schneider, Staff Writer
Music is alive and well on the Yeshiva University campus. Many students share their love for music by singing, playing instruments and performing in bands with classmates. For students at a Jewish university, music is a meaningful way to connect to tradition, community and even oneself. YU’s students utilize their gifts at synagogue services and while coming together to sing Jewish songs. The styles vary widely — from traditional chazzanut (acting as cantor) to jazz, pop and beyond. But the passion is the same.
These student musicians add life and energy to campus, creating a friendly community filled with creativity and passion. The campus supports these efforts through faculty mentorship, student groups and dedicated music spaces. Music events are social highlights that bring fans and performers together. For many students, music is a way to find their voice in a busy academic world. Three of the student musicians making an impact on campus are Nosson Oirich (YC ‘28), Zusya Brodsky (SSSB ‘28) and Shimi Rothman (YC ‘28), whose journeys show both the challenges and joys of making music at YU.
Using His Gifts: Nosson Oirich on Faith and Song
Upper Westsider Nosson Oirich began singing at the age of five, inspired by the Yeshiva Boys Choir. He developed his skills over the years with vocal training and cantorial study under Cantor Sherwood Goffin. Now, as a psychology major at YU, he does his best to balance schoolwork with a growing passion for music, which includes acting as a rotating Baal Tefillah (prayer leader) at several New York synagogues.
Oirich’s mentors and experiences have shaped his path. One key piece of advice came from an elderly man named Mickey, whom Oirich met while in Alabama for Torah Tours, a program that sends YU students to small Jewish communities for holidays. “Don’t let your talents go to waste. Use your gifts,” the man told him. This message still drives him to pursue music passionately. He practices regularly in campus music booths, choosing songs from the chazzanut tradition that resonate with him.
“Music has helped me find my voice as a student where it can be easy to get lost in the crowd,” Oirich told the YU Observer.
Finding Hashem Through Song: Zusya Brodsky’s Musical Journey
Also forging his own path is Zusya Brodsky, who discovered his love for singing at a young age. He began lessons at eight years old at his shul, Adath Israel in San Francisco, California, with Rabbi Joel Landau. There, Brodsky started developing both his voice and his spiritual connection to music. “I mainly do chazzanus, leaning heavily on traditional cantorial styles,” Brodsky told the YU Observer.
For him, music and prayer intersect naturally on campus, where he finds great support for his musical talents. When preparing to perform, Brodsky warms up his voice and stretches to relax any tension, aiming to produce a clear and powerful sound. His song selection usually stems from tunes he practices to lead davening. Music is more than a hobby for Brodsky — it is a vital piece of his communal connection and relationship with Hashem. He plans to continue acting as a cantor after graduation, serving Hashem and his community through his voice.
Strumming His Way: Shimi Rothman’s Guitar Journey
Shimi Rothman from Toronto, Canada, started playing the guitar relatively recently, near the end of high school. At YU, guitar became his way of making friends and became a hobby he enjoys. Rothman is influenced by smaller artists like the alt-rock guitarist Tony Boll, whose style shapes much of his playing. For Rothman, being a guitarist at YU is enjoyable. “I get to jam with people all the time,” Rothman told the YU Observer.
Rothman likes old rock songs and plays what he enjoys. Most of his practice happens in his room or on the campus stage. When schoolwork gets busy, Rothman puts the guitar down, but he always comes back to it during breaks. Playing guitar has helped him become more outgoing and true to himself. He doesn’t see music becoming a big part of his career but plans to keep improving for fun.
Some of Rothman’s favorite moments are warming up for performances. He starts with “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd for finger picking, then plays Green Day’s “Brain Stew” for more powerful bar chords. His favorite song to perform is “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Rothman would love to jam with Hendrix or Bill Withers someday, drawn to their unique styles and talent.
Advice from YU’s Student Musicians
Every musician on campus faces individual challenges and grows in their own way, but their advice can still carry lessons for anyone who wants to express themselves through music. Oirich believes it’s important for students to look for ways to share what they love. “Find an avenue to express your talents,” he said. To Oirich, this doesn’t mean waiting for a perfect performance or joining the biggest group. It means trying out for a band, singing for friends or even just taking time to practice in a quiet room. He believes everyone’s gifts matter, and YU offers plenty of spaces — big and small — to show what you can do. He encourages students not to be shy and to make the most of choir opportunities, prayer services, music clubs or even informal jam sessions.
Brodsky’s advice is simple: “Always keep training.” No matter how long you’ve been singing or playing, there’s always room to improve. Brodsky emphasizes that real progress comes from showing up regularly, working on new skills and asking for feedback. He recommends vocal exercises, experimenting with new styles and even rehearsing with others to challenge yourself. Brodsky reminds students that even accomplished performers still practice and learn, and that feeling creatively stuck at times is normal. By keeping up steady effort and being open to new ideas, musicians can grow far beyond their expectations.
As a guitarist, Rothman knows how easy it is to feel blocked or frustrated, especially when you hit a creative wall. His advice is to push on anyway. “Keep going,” he said. “You can only learn from your mistakes and get better — even if it seems you’re trapped or stuck in a creative hole, you can climb your way out with time.” For Rothman, mistakes are just part of getting better. Every missed note or rough practice is a step forward, as long as you stick with it. He encourages students to explore different genres, play with others and not to worry if progress feels slow. Whether you aim to perform for an audience or just play in your room, perseverance is key.
Looking Ahead
Oirich, Brodsky and Rothman prove that music at YU is about more than just shows and rehearsals. Music can help students feel at home, meet new people and handle the ups and downs of college. Whether you sing chazzanut, pick up a guitar or other instrument or just hum along, there’s a place for you. College can be busy and stressful, but music offers a way to relax and build connections.
Some will keep making music as cantors, while others, like Rothman, plan to keep playing just for the fun of it. No matter where life takes them after college, the lessons and friendships learned through music will stay with them forever.
Music at YU is a source of inspiration, connection and real growth. Thanks to students like Oirich, Brodsky and Rothman, the campus will keep buzzing with energy and sound.
Photo Caption: Musician Shimi Rothman
Photo Credit: Shimi Rothman