Yaron Spiwak Sets Provincetown to Music
by Steve Desroches
Music is universal. No matter the field of social science, art, or history, the evidence shows that every culture on Earth has musical traditions, and some theories suggest that music predates language in human evolution. And time and time again, it’s abundantly clear that music can unite us, help us overcome differences and squash prejudices. A room full of people singing together is always a beautiful thing.
Yaron Spiwak knows this better than most. As a musician, composer, and songwriter Spiwak has been making music since early childhood, and here in Provincetown for over a decade, becoming a staple of the town’s musical culture and claiming his place in said legacy. And this season Spiwak’s musical stylings can be heard from east to west all over town as he embarks on an ambitious summer schedule.
Creating a specific sound, or soundtrack, is Spiwak’s specialty. From 2016 to 2023, Spiwak was an “imagineer” with the Walt Disney Company working as a music producer and creative director. In that role he oversaw creating the sounds of the attractions in Disney parks, parades, live entertainment, and international marketing campaigns. He notes that Disney has a certain recognizable sound, created years ago, but there was a surprising amount of room for creativity and exploration. When music was required for an event at Hong Kong Disneyland, Spiwak gathered musicians from Vietnam, Korea, and Japan to collaborate with Chinese musicians to create a sound for the lunar new year. New music for a Jungle Book attraction had him exploring the music of India, while working on a Lion King event had him working with South African musicians. He has an ear, and an open heart and mind, to make cultural connections via music. With his training, experience, and travels, Spiwak can recognize a locales sound pretty quickly. So just what is Provincetown’s?
“The piano man,” says Spiwak. “The piano man sets the sound for Provincetown. I don’t see any as competition as we are all so completely different. Brittany [Rolfs]. Jon [Richardson]. There’s such a great community. We call each other with gigs. But I think you could sum up the Ptown sound in that its musical theater…and a little bit of everything.”
Born and raised in Kfar Saba, Israel, to a Moroccan mother and an Argentinian father, Spiwak studied at the Rimon School of Music in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, which focuses on jazz, R&B, and pop. He later toured and worked with top musicians all over Israel, but he longed to study and work in the United States, where music like gospel, jazz, R&B, and folk had their roots. He moved to the United States in 2007 to work on a B.A. in Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies at University of California, Los Angeles. Landing in the City of Angels led to Disney, but a friend introduced him to Provincetown prior, leading to a love affair with the town, but a misunderstanding of America.
“It was one of the first places I ever visited in the United States and it made me think that all of the US was like Provincetown,” laughs Spiwak. “That’s not the case.”
Dividing his time between Provincetown and Los Angeles since 2014, Spiwak bounces for piano to piano around town in a rapid syncopated beat, keeping the melodies flowing as everything from musical director to the Peregrine Theatre Ensemble’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch to the Crown & Anchor’s Holly Folly Follies each Christmastime to of course the multiple piano bars throughout town. And this summer Spiwak embarks as the new musical director at the Pilgrim House, where he also performs in their piano bar as well as in the showroom with Benjamin Morren in a musical tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, as the duo also have a dueling piano request show planned for down Commercial Street at Red Room, as well as solo gigs at other piano rooms in town.
“When people come to my shows I don’t see them as a crowd, I see them as my community,” says Spiwak. “I remember their names. I know their favorite songs. It feels like playing music for your friends in a living room.”
Reading rooms has become a distinct talent of Spiwak’s and while he says “97%” of his time in Provincetown is great, there is a tension since the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent brutal assault on Gaza, and now war between Israel and Iran. Tensions with people with opposing views have bubbled over in Provincetown from time to time. And being Israeli, people have unloaded their opinions on Spiwak on occasion. He’s open to a true dialogue, but not a scolding for his nationality. He has his viewpoints, which in their totality amount to a wish for peace, equality, and freedom for all. It’s possible to have productive conversations as he notes a close friend in town is Palestinian and they agree on much, much more than they disagree. Like any human with humanity in these troubled times Spiwak looks at how he contributes to a more peaceful planet.
“Where can I make a difference?” asks Spiwak. “It’s with music.”
Piano Men: A Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John featuring Yaron Spiwak and Benjamin Morren is at the Pilgrim House, 336 Commercial St., Saturdays, July 5 through August 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($40/$50/$75) are available at the box office and online at pilgrimhouseptown.com. Spiwak performs in the piano bar at Pilgrim House every Wednesday starting at 9 p.m. and with Marissa Miller Saturdays starting at 9 p.m. For more information call 508.487.6424. Spiwak and Morren are also starring in Rock the House: Dueling Pianos at Red Room, 258 Commercial St. Fridays, July 4 through September 5 at 10 p.m. Tickets ($15.50) are available at the box office and online at redroom.club. Spiwak is also performing at the Crown & Anchor in the Tap Room on Thursdays at 9- 11 p.m. and Fridays from 4 – 6 p.m. For more information visit onlyatthecrown.com or call 508.487.1430.
