The inspiring festival generated by the European Cantors Association, celebrating the Music of Jewish Prayer, is back! January 31st - June 27th 2026
The inspiring festival generated by the European Cantors Association, celebrating the Music of Jewish Prayer, which has been running since the end of January, reaches its climax in June.
Four services and three special concerts to conclude the Festival in June!
We have many treats in June for the final flourish of the ECA ‘From Our Lips …’ festival! Four amazing cantorial and choral services and three special concerts cover a wide range of Jewish sacred music.
The leaders of New London, Mill Hill (6 June) Central (13 June) and Bevis Marks Synagogue (27 June) all warmly welcome visitors to join them to hear some liturgical gems exquisitely presented by their cantors, guest cantors and choirs.
(Register with each synagogue in advance – see below)
New London Synagogue (6 June); Cantor Yoav Oved with American Guest Cantors Brian Mayer and Lynn Torgove created a special atmosphere and had a group of M'shorerim (songstrels) community members, who, led by Cantor Brian came together to learn and sing in the historic tradition, deepening the communal experience of prayer. They added harmonies and musical support that enhanced the melodies the community knows and loves.
For generations, M'shorerim played an important role in Jewish worship throughout Europe and beyond, helping to enrich the musical life of the synagogue, This tradition has become increasingly rare, making this gathering a unique opportunity which reconnected with an important aspect of Jewish musical heritage.
Mill Hill Synagogue (6 June) invited Michael Rowe from Birmingham as their guest cantor, to sing with adults and boys drawn from the community choir, sensitively connected with their conductor Cantor Eliot Alderman – creating an electric atmosphere for the service.
Central Synagogue (13 June) sees Cantor Steven Leas with an energetic choir conducted by Harry Style, move around the building together in harmony.
And finally on the services, Bevis Marks Synagogue (27 June) creates the climax of the series together with Edgware United. Bevis Marks, The oldest still- running Synagogue in the UK, which opened in 1701 (the community having been established in1656), continues the tradition of having a choir and chazzan every Shabbat. And continuing a tradition their choirmaster is Howard Martin, the son of Maurice Martin who used to conduct the choir. They sing the same tunes they have done for the last 300 plus years.
And at Edgware United, World Renowned Cantor Nissim Saal of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue will perform on Shabbat morning 27th June with an specially augmented choir led by Cantor Elliot Alderman.
There are then three choral concerts, featuring Mosaic Voices conducted by Michael Etherton (on Thursday 11 June); the London Cantorial Singers conducted by Alan Freedman with Cantors David Rome and David Hilton (on Sunday 14 June), and finally the London Jewish Male Choir conducted by Joseph Finlay with cantors Yoav Oved and Steven Leas on Sunday 21st June.
A big thank you and Yasher Koach to all those cantors, choirs and synagogues that have participated in the From Our Lips festival, celebrating their synagogue music.
Don’t forget to send Geraldine Auerbach, the festival organiser, a short report on your service and tell me how it was received by the community.
Here is the full participation table for the entire festival. Our thanks to all the synagogues, cantors and choirs who have made it such a great series.
Geraldine Auerbach, who is administering the 2026 'From Our Lips' Festival writes:
These were my ten takeaway impressions from the wonderful services presented in 2024. Each participating synagogue took great pride in the music they presented, taking special care in discussing music with the relevant people. The prayer leader, the honorary officers, the rabbi and community members played a part in deciding what to deliver and who should deliver it.
All participating synagogues made sure their congregants knew that there would be a musical service and which composition or traditional tunes they would be singing for which prayers. It was surprising how similar the repertoire was in all strands of Jewish worship.
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The music in Orthodox, Masorti, Independent and Reform synagogues all embraced the big-name 19th century liturgical composers of Lewandowsky (Berlin), Sulzer (Vienna) Mombach (London). The influence of the ubiquitous ‘Blue Book’ a compendium of choral and cantorial music from 1899, was still paramount in all strands, creating a strong sense of belonging and satisfaction.
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There was also some popular innovation in each synagogue service with particular favourites of more modern music (some composed in-house by their resident choirmasters or composers) that are also enjoyed by the communities.
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It was striking how a good strong and confident voice from the bimah galvanised the congregation and created a real buzz in the synagogue.
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A sensitive choir and choirmaster lea the congregation in song creating a rich atmosphere.
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I was surprised at how attentive the congregation of Mill Hill United Synagogue was – and then realised that they had all been asked to request what their guest cantor and resident choir would sing. There had been many suggestions. They were sitting on the edge of their seats hoping that their choice had made the cut!
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What was a revelation to congregants, was that often for the very first time, synagogue managements and prayer leaders told their members which tunes were being sung, either in emails in advance, or with a helpful handout for each congregant on the day, or actually telling them from the bimah who composed the music for a particular prayer and when. They had been ignorant before that, and they found this information engaging.
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Often the prayer leader was invited to the bimah to talk about music and the Rabbi also engaged with the music of Jewish prayer in his sermon, informing the congregation about the music they were singing.
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I was most surprised that many synagogues seem to think that this is an annual event and are already planning what they will do next year for music in their synagogue, to build on this years’ experience.
Read the full report here
