A musical drama written as a memorial of the Holocaust will be presented at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck on Sunday, May 3. (Please note: the date printed in the Calendar of the Feb. 26 issue of the Record was in error.)

The work, entitled, In Memoriam: Warsaw 1943, was commissioned to composer Roger Ames by the choral society of Greensboro, NC, as a 20-minute choral piece. ''For months I read large amounts of related material,'' said Mr. Ames. ''I soon realized that a 20-minute piece on the Holocaust was not going to be possible.''

Mr. Ames sought the assistance of Bernard Kaplan, ''poet, songwriter and educator,'' in Mr. Ames's words, as a librettist. Together they created a ''musical drama for the concert stage.''

When the Greensboro choral society decided that the material was too controversial for them, Frances C. Roberts, conductor of the Long Island Masterworks Chorus, a group of 120 voices, claimed the work for her group. Chairpersons of the chorus are Joshua Weitman and Julie Angione.

Mr. Ames is noted as a composer of musicals and operas, including Sleeping Beauty, Requiem for Unbelievers, and Amistad. He has been composer-in-residence at several schools in New York, Connecticut and London, among others. He is currently director of composition and vocal studies at Great Neck North High School.

''It began with the Jewish soul, the roots, a simple modal melody, whose counterpoint spits out, 'Who Is a Jew?''' said Mr. Kaplan, whose father, Julius, lost most of his family in the Holocaust. The librettist has written many poems and short stories. In 1994 he became principal of North High School. He is also a founding board member of the Solomon Schechter High School of Long Island. He and his wife, Sheila, have three children: Ian, Lona and Lawrence.

Ms. Roberts holds a master's degree in music from Boston University. In addition to teaching and performing on the piano, she has served as an accompanist for several singing groups. In her 18 years of collaboration with the Long Island Philharmonic, the chorus has performed almost all the great classical works as well as works of the 20th century.

According to publicity volunteer Karen Perlman, tickets for the concert are now available. They cost $18 for adults, with a $3 discount for students and seniors, and may be obtained by sending a check, payable to the Long Island Masterwork Chorus, at P.O. Box 529, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Donations will also be gratefully accepted. Donors will receive invitations to the post-concert reception and listing in the concert program.