Announcing Our 15th Cantors Convention
Hannover, 6 - 11 November 2023
A gathering for all those who love the music of Jewish prayer
Theme: Togetherness
For our 15th Cantors Convention we present in a city with Jewish heritage spanning nine centuries.
Jews have lived in Hannover since the 13th century. In 1930, as now, Hannover was home to one of the ten largest Jewish communities in Germany. Its first synagogue was constructed in 1703 in a backyard not visible to the general public.
In 1870, a grand new synagogue was established in close vicinity to the main churches of Hannover. Together with several others it was destroyed in a rage of violence and attack on Kristallnacht (now called Reichspogromnacht in Germany).
After the war, concentration camp survivors – including 66 native Hanoverians – returned to re-establish the Jewish community, including a Jewish school and community center. In 1963, a new synagogue (interior, left) was built. The Hannover Jewish community now numbers more than 5,000 members – and a panoply of institutions and communal services.
During recent years, the community life has developed considerably, in particular in the areas of youth, culture, social and elderly work. The membership continues to grow. A unique Hannover institution is the European Center for Jewish Music that maintains a significant research centre and high school.
European Cantors Association has again teamed up with the Hannover Jewish Communty to present a convention celebrating those nine centuries, commemorating the 85th Anniversay of Kristallnacht, in which the City suffered as many cities across Germany the third reich, and exploring the future of Jewish liturgical music in the theme of Togetherness
There will as usual be presentations by many internationally recognised cantors and opportunities for delegates, as ever, to sing in the open mic and concerts.
Participants for 2023 include: Cantors: Asher Hainovitz (Jerusalem) Benny Rogosnitzky (New York) Beny Maissner (Toronto) Shira Lissek (Charlotte) Pavel Roytman (Chicago) Matt Austerklein (Akron) Sveta Kundish (Berlin) Assaf Levitin (Hamburg) Paul Heller (London) Deborah Katchko-Gray (Ridgefield) and Moshe Dubiner (London) plus composers: Max Stern (Jerusalem) and Michael Ochs (Berlin) and Cantor Andre Sitnow, and the Choir and Orchestra of the Hannover Synagogue.
We will sing in the Parliament and at the prestigious University of Luneburg as well as participate in the civic Kristallnacht commemoration.
There will be sessions by inspirational presenters; stimulating panel discussions; masterclasses; choral workshops; as well as special evening entertainments, open mics and a Gala Concert
Enjoy a Shabbat of choral and cantorial beauty, daily minyanim, a tour of Jewish Hannover and an optional visit to Bergen Belsen.
Convention is at the historic and beautiful Villa Seligmann, (pictured) the House for Jewish music and at Hannover synagogue.
Convention starts Monday 6th November at 5.30pm with a Villa tour, dinner & open mic. On Tuesday 7th, registration is from 8.00am, sessions start promptly at 9.30am.
Convention ends after the Gala concert on Motzei Shabbat, 11th November, at 10.00pm.
Optional visit to Bergen-Belsen Sunday morning 12 November, 8.00am – 12 noon.
Delegates can be dropped off at Hannover airport (HAJ) by 12.30pm.
Tachlis
Convention fees for all delegates are £275 (£175 for students).
Accompanying guests are £175 (includes all sessions, meals and concerts).
Accommodation is not included.
We have created
reservations at the Congress Hotel am Standpark for nights 6th - 11th November.
Details of the special link to use are on the Registration Form
Apply now: details from convention@cantors.eu: The registration form is here.
We hope you will join us for this very special occasion commmorating the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht
Last Updated 30th July 2023