A Global Symphony: Kevin’s Journey of Music and Travel
For Kevin Solomowitz, music is more than a career—it’s his passion. Originally from Huntington, Long Island, he moved to Baltimore to attend the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins. After making the greater Baltimore area his home after graduation, he was introduced to The Associated network, where he jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the Young Adult Division.
Now a dedicated music teacher in Howard County Public Schools and a Hebrew school teacher at Oseh Shalom Synagogue, he’s inspiring the next generation to find their rhythm.
Kevin’s passion for music goes beyond the school doors. He plays in multiple classical musical groups, bands and orchestras. His main instrument is the bassoon, but he also specializes in the saxophone and flute. His least favorite instrument though? The piccolo.
From Classroom to Global Impact
While he’s in the classroom for nine months of the year, summers take Kevin across the globe. As a Field Director for BBYO Passport, he leads high school students on immersive travel experiences. His journeys have taken him to Israel, Germany, Italy, France, Costa Rica, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands—just to name a few.
Beyond BBYO Passport, Kevin looks for any chance to travel. Most recently, he spent five days in Cuba through The Associated’s Young Adult Division and JDC Entwine, where he was able to meet with the small Jewish community still left in Cuba.
“Going to Cuba has always been something I’ve wanted to do. I love traveling and Cuba has always been one of my top destinations and I’ve never really had the opportunity to go. So, when this trip came up for Baltimore specific people, with people I know, with a wonderful organization, how can I not apply for this?”
His passion for travel also takes him across the globe for volunteer work. Last spring, Kevin took several weeks off from work for a volunteer trip through Onward Israel. He spent 12 days in Israel right by the Gaza envelope, harvesting fruit left behind by migrant workers and soldiers deployed to war. He and fellow volunteers also donated blood, met with hostage families, visited Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and visited the Kotel where he prayed for those still missing.
“I was very proud to be there and to contribute,” Kevin says. “I wanted to participate and contribute to anything that I could. We’re so far away from it all.”
Finding His Community Through the Young Adult Division
Kevin’s journey to The Associated started through the Baltimore Jewish Council (BJC) during the pandemic. While looking for Jewish fellowships and leadership programs online, he came across the BJC and different programs that they offered. From there, he joined their Leadership Development Program and volunteered for a semester on the BJC’s Holocaust Remembrance Commission.
It wasn’t until last fall that he discovered The Associated’s Young Adult Division (YAD). Since the fall, Kevin dove headfirst with his YAD involvement attending a variety of events and programs, from volunteering opportunities to Shabbat dinners around Baltimore.
In February, he most recently attended the YAD Generosity Gala and won two different items from the first ever Silent Auction – talk about beginner’s luck!
But that wasn’t the highlight of his evening at the Gala. “Meeting so many new people,” Kevin recalls as his favorite part of the evening. “So many people that I’ve met over different YAD events or at other social groups – everyone was there.”
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