About Us
Arising from discussions at the 1st European Cantors' Convention organised by the JMI in 2006, a nucleus of practitioners and enthusiasts have set up Tephilharmonic with the aim of preserving and developing traditional synagogue music in UK orthodox communities.
Tephilharmonic hopes to achieve this by:
- Forming a network of people who are interested in cantorial music (chazanut) and who will actively support it in their communities
- Educating and involving community members to appreciate traditional synagogue music
- Encouraging and enabling synagogue services led by knowledgeable Chazanim who will make traditional Shul music accessible and enjoyable
- Providing support and musical resources for Chazanim and choirs
- Training lay Chazanim in traditional Nusach and encouraging the participation of younger Shul-goers.
Tephilharmonic was formed by:
- Cantors Moshe Haschel, Avromi Freilich, and Gedalya Alexander, and
- Jonathan Weissbart and Hirsh Cashdan.
Principal patron of Tephilharmonic is the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks.
Other patrons include Dayan Binstock, Lord Grabiner, Cantor Naftali Herstik, Simon Hochhauser, Mark Kosky, Cantor Joseph Malovany and Sir Bernard Rix.
Other committee members are Paul Glaser, Alex Klein, Cantor Steven Leas, and Cantor Stephen Robins.