The Sydenham Shul Choir comprises a dedicated group of amateur singers who enjoy a special love of singing and particularly of Jewish liturgical music which has a 200 year formal origin.

The Choir presents in their compositions a unique blend of ancient liturgical music combined with modern Chassidic music. Under the painstaking training and direction of their conductor, Jose Stern, who is recognized as the premier Jewish Choral Conductor in South Africa today, the Sydenham Choir has achieved musical heights of the highest order.

Yudi Cohen (tenor, chazan)

Oshy Tugendhaft (lead soloist, tenor, former choirmaster, former chazan)

Jose Stern (choirmaster)

The choristers currently comprise the following:

David Abramowitz (baritone), Colin Band (baritone), Julian Bassin (tenor), Dan Boruchowitz (baritone), Dan de Combes (tenor),Doron Falk (tenor), Brian Feinstein (tenor), Stan Feinstein (tenor), Mark Horowitz (bass), Greg Hurvitz (baritone), Anthony Hurwitz (baritone), Jeff Kacev (tenor), Anthony Katz (baritone), Lance Levin (tenor), Hedley Lewis (tenor) Bernard Lurie (bass), Mervyn Miller (tenor) and Hymie Sacks (bass).

Over recent years, some long-serving choristers have taken leave of absence or retired - Warren Bank (baritone),Ken Braude(tenor),Len Kay (baritone),David Levin (boy soprano), Cyril Sher (tenor) and Mathew Stern (baritone, former boy soprano)

Yudi Cohen

Yudi Cohen follows a tradition of great Chazonim on the Sydenham Bimah. Oshy Tugendhaft retired after 18 glorious years and prior to Oshy, Ari Klein made the Sydenham services exciting and pulsating, attracting large numbers to Shul.

Yudi was born in London, studied in the United States and Australia and comes from a family steeped in Chazanut and Jewish music. His father and grandfathers were well-known Baalei Tefillah abroad. Yudi started singing at an early age and as a youngster was a star soloist in Boys Choirs overseas. As well as performing in South Africa, Yudi has daavened and performed in Europe, North and South America, Australia and China. In 2004 he was hailed as one of the most promising young talents in the Jewish world at Heichal Hatarbut in Tel Aviv when he was invited to sing as “Panim Chadashot” in the Mann Auditorium.

In South Africa, his career has risen dramatically. He has sung at the Oxford and Waverley Shuls in Johannesburg and in Claremont Shul in Cape Town.

Blessed with an enchanting tenor voice, Yudi is equally at home with the classical compositions of Yossele Rosenblatt and the contemporary niggunim of Shlomo Carlebach. He and the choir have become an unbeatable combination, even by international standards, and his many new melodies have had congregants tapping their feet and even participating which Yudi actively encourages as he maintains that “there is something about communal daavening which is absolutely inspirational”.

In 2004 Yudi released a best selling CD, Classical Jewish Compositions, with the Cantors’ Choir and the International Yuval Philharmonic Orchestra arranged and conducted by Dr Mordechai Sobol.

Yudi is currently completing his degree in Opera performance at the TUT in Pretoria.

He is married to Dinah, with whom he has two young children.

Oshy Tugendhaft

Oshy Tugendhaft is the lead singer of Celebration 3. He is a world renowned Cantor and singer and has appeared extensively in concerts throughout the world to great acclaim. He has also made numerous television appearances.

Oshy recently retired as Cantor of the Sydenham Highlands North Hebrew Congregation, a position he held for almost two decades; he was formerly the choirmaster for 12 years. He is also the former resident Cantor of the Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir (JJMC).

Besides his six CDs with the Sydenham Choir, Oshy has also released the following albums:

1. Deliverance - Pesach Seder in Song;

2. Shirei Hechagim - Songs of the Festivals for children;

3. Oshy Tugendhaft with the JJMC in Concert; and numerous other collaborations with the JJMC.

These albums have been marketed in South Africa and overseas.

Oshy’s classical and musical training has made him equally at home in the traditional classical liturgy, modern contemporary song and Israeli and Chassidic music. He studied Chazanut under Cantor Shlomo Mandel and received his vocal training from Francis Russell, a former principal tenor at Covent Garden, and studied under Anne Hamblin. He studied musical theory and piano with Ray Smith and guitar with Brian Bebbington. Oshy has composed and arranged many of the compositions which are sung by him and the Sydenham Choir.

He is an attorney by profession and partner of “TWB” Tugendhaft Wapnick Banchetti and Partners, a leading Johannesburg law firm.

Tribute by Rabbi Yossy Goldman

In September 1986, I joined the Sydenham Shul. At that time, Oshy had already been Choirmaster for some 11 years. He had developed the Sydenham Choir into an outstanding musical ensemble attracting hundreds of people to Shul on a weekly basis. When, in 1987, Chazan Ari Klein left the Shul, Oshy, who had often been called upon to stand in for Ari, became Acting Chazan. The transition was so smooth and - as a former Choirmaster - his beautiful lyrical tenor voice blended so seamlessly with the choir that I cannot recall a single meeting to decide whether Oshy should become the permanent Chazan. It was beyond obvious. He simply moved into the position so naturally that he has been acting Chazan for 18 years!

For Sydenham it has been 18 delightful and inspirational years. For me personally it has always been a pleasure working with a real "pro." Oshy brought with him the highest standards of Jewish music. Equally importantly, he personified a sense of derech eretz and dignity which elevated the status and prestige of our congregation. One could, he proved, be exciting while remaining faithful to tradition and contemporary while never losing the classical touch. Popular, melodious, foot-tapping music, of Chassidic or Carlebach variety, was introduced without forfeiting the decorum of the Synagogue. It was this extraordinary mix which became the unique "Sound of Sydenham." Perhaps we at the Shul have taken it all for granted but I know it is not an easy balance to achieve and it certainly remains the exception rather than the rule in Shuls around the world.

Of course, Oshy's voice is not only pleasing to the ear, it is exceptionally well-trained. I have often marvelled at his self-discipline, both on the Bimah and on stage. The famous rendition of Hallel has made Yom Tov a special treat and the Celebration concerts and CD's have made us all proud.

I am not given to flippant exaggeration, but there is one occasion when Oshy and our choir are not only world class but, I would argue, simply the best show on earth - weddings! I challenge anyone to deny that a Sydenham Chupah is musically unmatched anywhere on the planet.

Thank you Oshy for being the man you are and for helping to make our Shul what it is today. As you are retiring in your prime, we look forward to still listening to you, please G-d, on many occasions in the future. We wish you, Karin and your family good health, nachas, personal satisfaction and continued success in all your aspirations.

Tribute by the Sydenham Choir

In his 28 years of service to the Sydenham Highlands North Congregation, Oshy has stood like a colossus at the helm of this choir. For the first 10 years he acted not only as Choirmaster but also as Musical Director of the choir, coaching the Chazanim that were appointed to the position from time to time. He moulded the choir even in those formative years to be among the top choirs in South Africa. In 1986 he was appointed as Cantor and Malcolm Zaidel succeeded him as Choirmaster.

What qualities does Oshy have that has made him such a popular Chazan to work with? In the first instance Oshy possesses a wealth of music, of correct nusach and liturgical compositions. He understands in depth the meaning of his prayers and his interpretation thereof is unrivalled in this country. His sincerity, his love of music, his dignity and his self-assurance shine through to uplift the entire congregation in prayer.

His conception of the Celebration Concerts, his love for the stage, his infectious personality and his ability to entertain in such a relaxed, artistic way have made the show the great international success it has been. He has inspired the choir to reach greater heights to match his performance and the combination of Chazan and choir has carried us to glory not only in South Africa but in the United States, Canada and England.

We salute you Oshy not only for your contribution to Chazanut, music and entertainment but for being our leader and our friend for the past 28 years. Your presence will be sorely missed.

Jose Stern

Conductor

Jose Stern, Conductor of the Sydenham Choir, is widely regarded as one of the foremost conductors of Jewish choral music in South Africa. Besides the Sydenham Choir, he trains various other choirs throughout South Africa. He was deputy Choirmaster to Gus Levy at Johannesburg’s Berea Synagogue and was previously Choirmaster of Linksfield Synagogue where the choir reached great heights during his 10 year tenure. He also held the role of assistant Choirmaster of the distinguished Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir, of which he was a founder member. Under his painstaking direction, the Sydenham Choir has attained a level of exemplary musicianship which continues to enhance its reputation in the Jewish music world.

Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph

Musical director/arranger/consultant

Professor Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph is regarded as one of South Africa’s most versatile composers, being equally at home with classical and contemporary music. In 1979, Jeanne became the first and only South African woman to obtain a doctorate in composition at the University of Pretoria, having studied at the Royal College Of Music, London as well as in Hamburg, Germany. Many of her works have been performed internationally with great acclaim and in 1995 she was the guest composer at a festival of South African music in Ohio, USA. Her compositions are regularly broadcast locally and internationally on television and radio. Several CD’s of her original compositions have been recorded.

In 1996, she was commissioned to compose and “Oratorio for Human Rights” on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA. Jeanne was given the honour to produce a new composite version as well as a full orchestral setting of the South African National Anthem – this is the official version being used today.

Jeanne is Professor of Composition at the University of the Witwatersrand and past head of the Faculty of Music.

Jeanne was commissioned to compose a song in honour of President Mandela, which was premiered in Cape Town in September 1997 at his Doctoral Award Ceremony. Jeanne was the Musical Director and Arranger of all the music for Celebration 1 and 2 and the Musical Consultant for Celebration 3. Oshy, Jeanne and the choir have enjoyed a long musical collaboration.

On 29th October 2004, President Thabo Mbeki presented the “Order of Ikhamanga” to Jeanne in acknowledgement of her lifelong service to music in South Africa.

Phil Holder

Musical director/Saxophonist

Having wowed local and international audiences of Celebration in previous years, with his legendary talents on the saxophone, Phil Holder also took up the position of Musical Director of Celebration 3. With an Honours degree in Jazz, and the piano, guitar and drums added to the list of instruments he plays, Phil Holder is indeed a musician, composer and arranger of many talents.

He has worked with leading international artists such as Grace Jones, George Benson, Darius Brubeck and Bruce Cassidy of Blood, Sweat and Tears fame. On the local front, he has added his talents to shows such as African Footprint, backed stars such as Mango Groove and Hugh Masekela and additionally demonstrated his versatility with a range of classical recitals with the National Symphony Orchestra. Phil is also a sought after commodity for popular entertainment bands at events and simchas and features prominently with Havana Gas and Jonathan Birin.

Between 1998 and 2000, Phil played for the Consular General in Singapore and American Embassy. For the past 3 years he has written the music for Yom Ha'atzmaut in Johannesburg and has played at all the events. Between 1994 and 1997 Phil ran a programme at the State Theatre incorporating a Big Band 16 piece orchestra, for which he wrote, scored, arranged and directed the music.

While he was a member of the Police Force from 1986 to 1996, Phil conducted and scored for the 100 piece Police Orchestra.

He has previously toured the USA and Canada with Oshy Tugendhaft and the Sydenham Choir, and was part of the orchestra that played to standing ovations at London's Royal Festival Hall during performances of Celebration 2.

Gavin Opert & Linda Starkowitz

Producers

Since its inception in 1989, Gavlin Productions; - the two man team comprised of Gavin Opert and Linda Starkowitz has been making its impact on South African Jewish musical theatre. Their integral relationship with Oshy Tugendhaft and the Sydenham Choir's performances of 'Celebration' dates back to the show's début in 1993. Over the years they have contributed to the show's unprecedented local and international success and have been part of the evolutionary process which gave rise to both Celebration 2 and Celebration 3. Sharing the common ground of passion for Jewish arts and culture, Gavin and Linda have been involved in producing and directing a number of musical productions such as "Let my People Go" for Bnei Brith in 1989. Utilising local SA talent the show was the first of its kind in the country and hailed as musical tour de force. "United We Stand", was a production dedicated to raising funds for needy Israeli families during the Gulf War of 1992. Their involvement in the Celebration series began in 1993, when they produced and directed the first show in honour of the 50th anniversary of Sydenham Synagogue. Since then they have collaborated for many more shows for various Jewish organisations, which have included well known Jewish artists of the calibre of Dudu Fisher, Avraham Fried and Duo Reim. In recognising the need to promote Arts and Culture in all forms, they spearheaded the formation of SAJACT the South African Jewish Arts & Culture Trust in 1998. Notable events have included the first ever Pavarotti concert in the country, as well as a critically acclaimed concert tour by the legendary Pincus Zukerman.