Moshe Katzburg, Leader

Welcome to the Continentals Orchestra Web Site

The Continentals Orchestra provides music for the following events-

BAR/BAT MITZVAH-( see DJ ADDITION -option-below)
SHABBAT ACAPPELLA–Israeli/English singing ( see detailed description- below)
WEDDING  (see WEDDING details-below)
PRIVATE PARTY/DINNER DANCE
Musical styles include -Showtunes, Latin, Big Band, Oldies, 50's-60's, Classic Rock, Disco, Country, and International Music of all types.

The Continentals Orchestra has been in business for over 20 years, led by Moshe Katzburg.

The full orchestra starts at 7 pieces and goes as large as 12 pieces. The musicians include a mixture of international and American born musicians.

The Larger Combo (7 to 12 pieces) is used mainly for dinner-dances, corporate parties and weddings. It includes a female vocalist and three male vocalists who also play instruments.

Another possibility with The Continentals is the Small Combo Package. The smallest option is a ONE MAN BAND where Moshe sings and plays 2 keyboard synthesizers while using a digital drum machine, and can sound like a full orchestra all by himself.

The ONE MAN BAND is very popular with small Bar/Bat Mitzvah, private parties, small corporate parties, home or poolside parties, or events in restaurants.

This can be expanded from the One Man Band concept to 2 or 3 pieces. When performing as a 3-piece band, Moshe is joined by a guitarist/singer and a drummer.

Moshe Katzburg spent his childhood in Israel, a place where all languages and all types of music were heard. He has spent his adult life in the USA, which gives Moshe the ability to play and sing a wide variety of musical styles.

Moshe sings in 16 languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, Greek, Turkish, Hebrew, Yiddish, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Armenian, Persian, Arabic, Hungarian, Portuguese and English, and Italian.

Moshe brings with him a DJ set up as well as part of his standard ONE MAN BAND Package. Therefore, he all by himself, is a ONE MAN BAND and DJ – all rolled into one person.

The most outstanding feature about Moshe, aside from his musical virutuosity as a very gifted keyboard player and his abilty to sing in all those languages, is his unique personality. He is a very entertaining M/C, navigating the party with open style and humor. Having all the years of his experience enable him to READ his audience.
His natural abilty deciding  when to play a certain style of music and when to switch to another type / tempo/era /language etc. in a timely fashion is accomplished seamlessly. That is why most of his clients insist that he perform at their party- in person.

• American Standards and show tunes - Cole Porter and Gershwin
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• Sinatra/ Big Band music from the 40's
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• Oldies - 50's 60's, Motown
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• Classic Rock, including Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.
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• Disco Music -70’s and 80’s
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• Contemporary Rock,Ballads and Alternative
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• Classic country and folk music
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• Background piano bar/ dinner music

SHABBAT ACAPPELLA

Through the years, we realized that when we do a Shabbat Acappella affair , without musical instruments, we should use a minimum of 4 singers ( we sometimes use more singres, if the client wants a bigger/fuller sound and has a bigger budget.)

When we have 4 singers, we usually use 2 Israeli borns and 2 American borns.
Eventhough all of us sing in English and Hebrew, with this combo, the Hebrew singing is done with proper Israeli accent and of course the English singing, with English accent.

Doing Shabbat Acappella can be a lot of fun. We can sing:

Traditional Shabbat songs , Israeli, Chassidik, Yiddish/ Klezmer , Oldies/ Doo Wop, Show tunes, Classic Rock/Motown ,Folk songs, Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel etc.--all up to what you and you guests like-YOU TELL US.

Towards the end dinner, if you like , we can stroll -visiting each table, taking requests and encouraging your guests to sing along as well as humor them ( when appropriate). We all love that part of the party because we get to interact with the guests, and we always have  lots of laughs.

If you like, we can also play some games with the Bar Mitzvah boy and his friends ( Coke & Pepsi, Musical Chairs, Hoola Hoop contest, Limbo tec).

At the proper time, if you like,we can  invite people onto the dance floor and encourage them to dance, or even get a chair and have the Bar Mitzvah boy raised on a chair ( yes or no-YOUR CHOICE).

If your Temple allows, we will sing,using our sound equipmet-(microphones and a sound system).
We can even arrange to bring all our equipment and set it up before Shabbat.

DJ ADDITION

For Bar /Bat Mitzvah-as an option, we can also bring with us , in addition to the musicians-a young ONE-MAN DJ.
The advantage here is that this young ONE-MAN DJ, whom we subcontract from a DJ company that is affiliated with us,  will provide activities and play the  games with the yougsters as well as bring with him the latest songs that were just on the radio.(The youngsters like the fact that a young person, closer to their age is entertaing them, plays their music, speaks their “language”).

WEDDING

For weddings we recommend the full orchestra (7 to 12 pieces).
Sometimes, for the sake of a small size or economy, we use a small band plus a 1 MAN DJ. ( We have already done small weddings with a 1 MAN BAND + 1MAN DJ).

The full orchestra includes a female vocalist and 3 male vocalists who sing in English as well as other languages ( including Hebrew) since some of the musicians are international.

We provide music for the ceremony , cocktail hour (using 3 musicians-including  a violinist-at no extra charge-IF THE CLIENT SO WISHES) and the reception ( with the full band).
This total package is usually a 6 hr. package.

For the convenience of the bride and groom, we can provide our song lists from which they can choose and many times we will learn new/specialty songs which are not on our lists-to accommodate the wishes of our clients.

We feel that our brides and grooms are very important and we realize the huge responsibility we carry as we provide music and entertainment for them , and their guests,on this very special day in their lives.

That is why we take all the time they wish to meet with us, e mail us or discuss with us on the phone-all the aspects of  their wedding, starting with the choice music for the ceremony, 1st. dance , parents’- dances with the bride and groom, all the introductions, announcements , toasts etc.

It is our very sincere intent to “taylor make” our musical / entertainment for the particular needs of each bride and groom, starting with their ethnic backgrounds and ending with their musical preferences.

When our brides and grooms are at a loss and need any advice , pertaining to ANY question or aspect of their wedding, we are very eager to offer our opinion , experience and recommendation for any situation. We are very happy to explain , relate , clarify how we see and what we have seen in the past, for similar situations, leaving the ultimate choice to the bride and groom.

Making the choice to use our band for your wedding will be one of the most pleasant experiences of your life. We have many past clients who will attest to that.
We will be happy to furnish references to you, upon request.

Contact us to discuss your next event

(845) 639-0064

email: moshekatzburg@hotmail.com