Leeav Sofer

Leeav Sofer is the co-founder and artistic director of The Urban Voices Project, a non-profit that combines adult music wellness and community singing programs to bridge individuals surviving homelessness to a sense of purpose and improved health. Through healing centered engagement and Sofer’s experience in social emotional learning, clients use arts to navigate their respective journeys off the streets and back into society. These groundbreaking programs have been placed in clinics, shelters and libraries all across the Greater Los Angeles area contributing to a more comprehensive, holistic system for engaging the homelessness crisis. 

These programs have garnered Sofer recognition on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, on NPR’s All Things Considered, NBC’s Today Show, Ovation TV and allowed him to share the stage with various celebrities such as Dick Van Dyke, John Legend, and Joan Baez as well as local politicians and even television appearances. In 2020, broadway legend Ben Vereen made a commitment as ambassador of Urban Voices Project to continue spreading awareness of Sofer’s work. 

Sofer currently is on faculty at the Colburn School in Los Angeles where he teaches classes, directing choirs and community engagement programs. Under the auspice of Colburn, Sofer helped initiate or develop music programs to culturally elevate the surrounding communities. This includes arts and social justice classes connecting undergrad and graduate students to new forms of music activation in disenfranchised communities. 

Sofer, recognized as Jewish Journal’s esteemed “30 under 30”, also leads the band Mostly Kosher, dedicated to preserving and progressing cultural folk music of Judaic heritage. In 2016, Mostly Kosher had the historical honor of being the first Jewish music ensemble at the Disney parks and performed a 2 month residency at Disney California Adventure, featured in the Festival of Holidays to be met with critical acclaim including a special on PBS. 

Sofer proudly has founded and currently serves on the board as Vice-President for National Alliance for Music in Vulnerable Communities (NAMVC) and Skid Row Arts Alliance (SRAA).