Faculty and Faculty Alumni
Attendees of Mifgash Musicale have the valuable opportunity to learn directly from some true leaders and innovators in Judaism and Jewish Sacred Music. Given the small and intimate atmosphere at Mifgash, faculty are not simply lecturers but rather members of our community. Some of the best learning takes place during informal conversation.
This list outlines faculty, both present and past. Current faculty appears first (grey background) followed by faculty alumni (white background).
Cantor Alane Simons Katzew
Cantor Alane Simons Katzew, Director of Music Programming at the Union for Reform Judaism, is editor of Divrei Shir an adult education curriculum that chronicles the development of music in the Reform Synagogue from 1800's through the modern day. Cantor Katzew initiates and administers programs aimed at educating synagogue musicians and lay leaders about the interrelationship of worship and music. She is an editorial consultant for Transcontinental Music Publications and a featured recording artist on the CD’s - Shabbat Anthology & Nigun Anthology.
Cantor Andrew Bernard
Cantor Andrew Bernard received his bachelor of music and bachelor of arts degrees from Oberlin College, majoring in piano performance and pre-med. He went on to earn both the masters and doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Washington, where he was a student of Abraham Kaplan.
Cantor Erik Contzius
Demonstrating deep love and commitment toward his field of endeavor, Cantor Erik Contzius’ unique sounds beautifully reflect his relationship with the Divine, which is clearly evident in his pulpit presence and original compositions. While his passion for music ranges from Hazzanut (cantorial art music) to Yiddish folk songs, as well as Opera and Broadway melodies, Cantor Contzius is most at home on the pulpit leading prayer.
Dr. Alan Mason
Alan Mason is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he received the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, and the University of Miami, where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Since 1996, Dr. Mason has been Associate Professor of Music at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida.
Josh Nelson
Josh Nelson is one of the most popular performers and producers in modern Jewish music. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Josh's music is celebrated and integrated into the repertoire of congregations, camps and communities around the world. Delivering high-octane Jewish rock, the Josh Nelson Project is five of the most talented performers in the United States. Each musician is young, Jewish and a positive role model. 2009 marks the long-awaited release of "Lift," the debut CD from the Josh Nelson Project. Built upon songs of Jewish identity and continuity, "Lift" breaks new ground with razor-sharp lyricism and a progressive, radio-ready sound.
Dr. Jayson Rodovsky
Jayson Rodovsky serves as Music Editor of Transcontinental Music Publications (TMP) of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). He holds graduate degrees in choral conducting and organ performance from Yale University and has served as Organist and Music Director of several congregations in Connecticut and New York, most recently at Central Synagogue in New York City and Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, New York.
Cantor Bruce Ruben
Cantor Bruce L. Ruben is the Director of the School of Sacred Music (SSM) at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). He has taught Jewish history courses at HUC-JIR and the history of Jewish music at The Julliard
School. For the past fifteen years, he has served as an adjunct professor of history at Hunter College, where he has taught courses on World History, Modern Jewish History, and the Holocaust.
Rabbi Richard S. Sarason
Rabbi Richard S. Sarason is Professor of Rabbinic Literature and Thought at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where he has been on the faculty since 1979 www.huc.edu. He received his A.B. from Brandeis University (1969), his rabbinic ordination and M.A.H.L. from HUC-JIR, Cincinnati (1974), and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Brown University (1977), where he also served as a faculty member for three years.
Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller
Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller is Professor of Cantorial Arts at the School of Sacred Music, HUC-JIR/New York. She serves as the Director of Cantorial Practica, Masters Thesis advisor, Tefillah advisor and Cantorial coach. Her work involves training cantorial students to bridge the gap between performance and spiritual leadership.
Cantor Yvon Shore
Cantor Yvon F. Shore is the Director of Liturgical Arts and Music at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. She is the first cantor to hold this position. Cantor Shore is the founder and president of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) Israel council, an organization dedicated to the support of Progressive Jewish music initiatives in Israel. She is a frequent guest lecturer and artist in residence. Cantor Shore will speak in the opening festivities at the Jewish Institute of Cantorial Arts (JICA). JICA is a part of the Abraham Geiger College, Germany's first rabbinical seminary since the Holocaust.
