Judy Alpert

Memories of Judy Alperts childhood spent in her native Hungary were the inspiration for her CD, "A SINGLE VIOLET." The songs of that era, most particularly the popular "A Single Violet," which she last heard on the radio prior to her escape from Budapest, still has a haunting and unforgettable spell on its listeners. Judys unique interpretation and rendition on the CD of American jazz standards, Yiddish tunes, and Hungarian songs is a result of the influences of her cross-cultural experiences and musical training. In addition to the three languages represented, the CD reflects varied musical styles such as tango, bassa nova, swing, and ballad. Her own translations and singing of the Hungarian songs in both Hungarian and English, all within the same cut, provide a meaningful contribution to the repertoire of popular songs for both countries. Musicians on A SINGLE VIOLET include George Oldziey on piano, John Fremgen on bass, Glenn Schuetz on bass, Ernie Durawa on drums, Glover Gill on accordion, Russell Remington on soprano saxophone, and Ben Saffer on clarinet.

Judy was born in Hungary to Holocaust survivors. During the 1956 revolution, she and her parents escaped to the United States from Budapest. She began her music studies in Hungary with the Kodaly method which led her to a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Texas. Judy is a singer, pianist, arranger, professor, and published music researcher. She has investigated the effect of music on emotions and her findings have been cited in textbooks and scholarly papers in the U.S. and Europe, making her an accepted authority in this field. In addition, she has been a music specialist with the Austin Independent School District and has taught voice and piano. She sings in places ranging from  Austin to Los Angeles and beyond, on radio and TV,  in clubs, community centers, benefits, synagogues, and cultural events. In 2002, she was a featured soloist at the Budapest Jewish Summer Festival.