Cantorial Soloists and the Choir   

Temple Menorah has a long and proud musical tradition, dating from the 1950s when we had a choir so highly regarded that it was regularly invited to go on tour throughout the country. This tradition is well represented today by our talented cantorial soloist, Elizabeth Gottlieb. 

Elizabeth Gottlieb is an accomplished classical concert soprano, who also serves as music director for our acclaimed High Holidays Choir. She has sung with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti, has been featured as a soloist with the Chamber Opera of Chicago, and sings regularly with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and the Music of the Baroque. She has also sung under the direction of Max Janowski at K.A.M. Isaiah and Central Synagogue.  

The High Holidays Choir is among the best, if not the best, in the Chicago area. Led by Elizabeth Gottlieb, the choir sings the best of the best from composers of all eras, including David White (former cantor of Temple Menorah), Max Janowski, Louis Lewandowski, Samuel Sulzer, Jaco Beimel, Bonia Shur, Abraham Idelsohn, A.W. Binder, Leonard Bernstein, and Salomono Rossi. The choir makes the High Holidays an enjoyable and esthetic experience that you will not want to miss. Joining Liz in the choir this year are tenor Trevor Mitchell, bass Benjamin Rivera, alto Diane Busko-Bryks, and organist Terree Shoffner-Emrich. All are accomplished professional musicians.

David Cowen, Kol Nidre cellist, is a member of the congregation and is active as a chamber music and orchestral player in the Chicago area.  He is Principal Cellist and President of the Sinfonietta Arts Chamber Ensemble. 

Hear a 13-minute excerpt from this year's Kol Nidre service