Profiles
Gus Levy
Gus served as leader of the Second Violin section of the National Orchestra of the SABC in Johannesburg for 26 years.
He was also Choirmaster to the Oxford Synagogue, with Moshe Kraus as Cantor. After five years he transferred to the famous Berea Hebrew
Congregation, where he served for 20 years, with three of the great South African cantors, Shlomo Mandel, Dudu Fisher and David Bagley.
Gus is a co-founder of the Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir and has been Conductor and Musical Director since its inception. His vast experience in opera, ballet, symphonic and chamber music, as well as his extrordinary powers of interpretation in the liturgical field have helped to make the JJMC what it is today - a powerful and internationally acclaimed force in the Jewish Choral World.
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Ephraim Katz
In 1984 Ephraim arrived in South Africa and joined the South African Army Band. He became deeply involved in the communal and cultural life of the South African Jewish Community. In 1985 he became the permanent Conductor of the Jewish Guild Orchestra. As Musical Director, Ephraim has been involved with many shows and musical productons produced bye various Jewish organisations in Johannesburg (often with his wife Litzy as Director and Choreographer)
Ephraim has been Choirmaster at the Greenside and Berea Synagogues and is currently Choirmaster at the Emmarentia Synagogue. In 1994 he became the Asistant Choirmaster and house arranger of the JJMC.
Ephraim holds the position of Director of Music and Officer Commanding the South African Army Senior Staff (Military) Band and carries the rank of Captain.
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Oshy Tugendhaft
He studied chazzanut from a young age under the illustrious Cantor Shlomo Mandel, musical theory and piano with Ray Smith, and recieved his vocal training from Ann Hamblin, a former principal tenor of Covent Garden and Francis Russel.
Oshy is the cantor of the Sydenham Highlands North Synagogue, one of the largest Synagogues in South Africa, and is the resident Cantor of the Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir.
Oshy's vocal and musical training and his experience enables him to move with ease from classical and liturgical music to conteporary Israeli and secular music.
Together with the Sydenham Choir, Oshy's unique blend of traditional chazzanut and innovative modern musical style has created an identifiable musical form of expression which continues to captivate hundreds of regular worshippers who attend the Synagogue each week.
Oshy has released a number of record albums. "Shirei Hechagim" for the children's market, "Deliverance" Pesach Seder in Song, "Hallel" and "Celebration", with the Sydenham Choir. These recordings include several of Oshy's original recordings.
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Evelyn Green
She is an external examiner for UNISA, and is actively engaged in teaching. She has appeared in numerous concerts throuhout South Africa and Namibia, as well as appearances on South African Television and Radio. In 1984 she appeared in a piano and violin recital in Vienna.
She performs regularly with leading instrumentalists, singers and has accompanied many renowned cantors in the World. Evelyn is a founder of the JJMC and has been its accompanist and secretary since its inception.
Since 1987 she has toured extensively with the Choir to the USA, Canada, the UK, and Israel.
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Len Kay
As a 13 year-old he organised and sang in a pop group, "The Silhouettes", which was successful enough to earn a recording contract, resulting in several hits on the local market.
After moving to London he sang with several well-known bands and was in great demand as a session singer for recordings and jingles.
Having lived in South Africa since 1969 he soon became involved in singing liturgical music in various choirs. Len's wide experience is evident in his repertoire. He sings anything from pop to opera to jazz to chazzanut and is equally comfortable in each genre.
He has appeared throughout the country in cabaret and on TV, as a soloist with the JJMC and has toured extensively in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Israel.
He also sings at the Sydenham Highlands North Shul, where his rich baritone voice is featured at Shabbat and Yom Tov services. In his spare time he sings with his own jazz band. He has released a CD and tape, "Our Heritage", consisting of Hebrew and Yiddish songs, paying tributie to B'nai Brith on their 50th anniversary.
Len sings with the JJMC in the Bass 1 section.
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Gus Levy is the son of the late Rev. Levy who served as spiritual leader to the Port Elizabeth Hebrew Congregation for nearly 50 years. Gus commenced his musical studies at the age of seven, with the violin as his principal instrument. He graduated from the University of Cape Town's college of music and gained valuable orchestral experience as a permanent member of the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
Ephraim Katz was born in Israel and began his musical career with the Haifa Municipal Youth Band in 1954, at the age of 10. He did his National Service as a clarinet player in the Israeli Defence Force Band, becoming its Bandmaster on completion of his service. He later became Bandmaster for the Israeli Police Band, a position he held for 12 years. At this time he also completed his Bachelor of Music Dergree at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. He conducted and wrote music for many recordings, movies, radio and T.V. and was musical director for shows and song festivals.
Cantor Oshy Tugendhaft made his first international appearances at the age of 13 as a "child chazzan" officiating in some of the leading synagogues of the USA and appearing in concerts and on American television. He has appeared extensively in concerts throughout South Africa, Israel, the USA, Canada, England and Australia.
Evelyn Green is one of the foremost accompanists and repetiteurs in South Africa. She holds the University of South Africa Teachers and Performers Licentiates, Royal School of Music Teachers and Performers Licentiates, as well as the fellowship of the Trinity College of Music.
Len Kay was born in Ireland. He first heard applause for his singing when he was four years old and the bug bit. He has not stopped singing since.