Alex Klein appointed Convenor of the JMI Cantorial Branch
posted 28 September 2011
Alex Klein was appointed Convenor of the Cantorial Branch of the JMI Synagogue Music Section in September 2011. Alex has a passion for chazanut and has worked effectively over the last 40 years in his home city of Manchester to bring it to the attention of as many people as possible through concerts and radio programmes.
Alex has many cantorial friends and associates around the world. He established the Julian Klein Memorial Scholarship for training cantors at the Tel Aviv Cantors Institute and several have already taken part in courses there. Alex created and ran the 6th annual JMI European Cantors Convention with a gala concert and Shabbaton in Manchester in June 2011 which
was highly successful. He hopes to continue to build on the fruitful foundations created by our Synagogue Music Section consultant Stephen Glass and previous cantorial convenor Hirsh Cashdan. He hopes to make the cantorial art relevant and enjoyable to a new generation in the 21st century.
Alex Klein, centre, with Cantors Sol Zim (left) and Yaakov Motzen (right) at the 2011 Cantors Convention which he organised in Manchester. Photo: Lawrence Purcell
Alex has the good wishes of Chairman of JMI Jennifer Jankel and the trustees. Geraldine Auerbach MBE, Director of the Jewish Music Institute, said on his appointment: ‘We are sure that Alex who has presented many of the worlds greatest cantors in this country will be a huge asset to cantorial life in the UK. It is our hope that cantors, lay prayer leaders and congregations as well as all those interested in music of the synagogue will be invigorated and benefit from his endeavours as part of the JMI family'.
Alex has brought to Manchester world renowned chazanim, chasidic singers and celebrated choirs including:
David Apfel
David Bagley
Shmuel Barzilai
Shlomo Carlebach
Henry Chait
Moshe Ben David
Dudu Fisher
Avromi Freilich
Yitzchak Halevy
Asher Hainovitz
Moshe Haschel
Naftali Herstik
David Katanka
Yehezkel Klang
Kenney Koransky
Josef Malovany
Ben Zion Miller
David Montifiore
Yakov Motzen
Binyomin Muller
Jonathan Murgraff
Yaakov Lemmer
Jan Peerce
Pinchas Rabinowitz
Steven Robins
Brian Segal
Aaron Ben Soussan
Dov Speir
Gerald Stern
Paul Zim
Sol Zim
Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir
Leeds Hebrew Congregation Choir
Miami Boys Choir
Moscow Male Voice Choir
Safem
Zemel Choir
As a result of the many concerts Alex has presented he has raised understanding and appreciation of the cantorial art as well as raised thousands of pounds for charity.
last modified: September 28, 2011
