Why Do We Mumble Our Prayers?

David Aaronovitch in his UK Jewish Chronicle article of 15 December 2022 asks
‘why do we mumble our prayers?’   
https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/all/why-do-we-mumble-our-prayers-they-should-be-belted-out-1I5LLMOBqoNTsgb88ltykc

ECA Exec, Geraldine Auerbach, argues there has been no recognised or endorsed training for orthodox prayer leaders in the UK for decades; nor is there an agreed standard to attain. And even if there was a standard, she argues, there is virtually no hope of employment as a prayer-leader.

Read more of this here.
ECA's suggestion to UK United Synagogue to remedy the situation: "From Our Lips...".

Review of Our 14th Cantors Convention, Budapest, November 2022

Back after the pandemic, European Cantors staged our 14th Convention in Budapest last November in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beautifully restored Rumbach Street Synagogue (pictured) which is celebrating its 150th Anniversary

Our theme was 'Invigorating Nusach for the 21st Century'
A hundred people came together to share knowledge and experience, gain new insights and material, build personal networks, make new friends and sing together.

Renowned cantors, choirs and Jewish music experts from the UK, Europe, Israel and the US, across the spectrum of Jewish worship, led sessions and entertained us with their music.

Our cross-demominational faculty included:

Cantors Asher Hainovitz (Jerusalem),
Benny Rogosnitzky (New York),
Beny Maissner (Toronto), 
Deborah Katchko-Gray (Ridgefield, USA),
Jeremiah Lockwood (New York),
Netanel Baram (Los Angeles),
Isidoro Abramowicz (Berlin),
Leah Frey-Rabine (Germany), 
Sofia Falkovitch (Paris),
Paul Heller (London),
Aviya Nachshon (Herzliya),
Aviv Weinberg (Celle),
and Alina Treiger (Berlin)
With Professor Mark Kligman (Los Angeles)
Plus Choirs The London Cantorial Singers and
Kol Rina Choir Jerusalem 

Session highlights included:

• panels with eminent cantors on the importance (or otherwise) of Nusach in the 21st Century

• how to teach Nusach and maintain its framework in a world which celebrates diversity and new approaches   

• what the Pandemic has taught us in creating Ruach in our communities and connecting with Kehillot in ways previously not thought about  

• two sessions on the Katchko-Alter nusach, led by cantors intimately connected with that mode

• a special session on the Friday morning, which focused on correlation between the text and music of the Tefillah.

There were also two great new features this year….  

• delegates had the opportunity to sign up for a Creative Choral Ensemble of their choice - featuring topics from ancient music to new compositions - for a performance created in workshops through the Convention 
• lunchtime recitals featuring soloists, choirs and an orchestra. 

….plus there were the usual regulars of Masterclasses with signature cantors, the Open Mic,
a full programme of daily and Shabbat services, networking, and the Gala Concert on the last evening of the Convention.

The full programme for what you missed is here and the Convention is reprised fully in our December newsletter.

The 14th European Cantors Convention was presented by the European Cantors Association (ECA) in association with the Federation of the Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ) and was supported by Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience and the Mickey Katz Endowed Chair, UCLA and the Jewish Music Institute SOAS University of London  

A number of participants have asked if they can have specific video material with their contributions. We are curating all the material from the Convention and will get to this in due course - it will probably take a few weeks yet however : we're only a small, voluntary team :-)