Cantor Edward R. Fogel Memorial Concert, St. Louis, MO, Mar 28
The St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music will present its annual Cantor Edward R. Fogel Memorial Concert this coming Sunday afternoon, March 28th at 4:00 pm at B'nai El Congregation, 11411 North Outer Forty Drive in suburban St. Louis. Entitled "A Night at the Opera," it will contain solos and ensemble pieces from opera, operetta and even the movie of the same name, performed by the cantors, soloists, keyboard players and other musicians from most of the city's Reform and Conservative congregations.
Ed Fogel (zl) was hazzan of Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis for many years. Born in Uzbekistan, he grew up in Toronto, and as a teenager hitch-hiked to New York to attend Hebrew Union College. He was hired by Congregation Shaare Emeth after graduation and ordination, and later earned a master's degree from St. Louis Conservatory of Music. He was a founding member of the St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music, and a past president of both the Circle and the American Conference of Cantors. In his long career he proved a versatile cantor, accompanying himself on the guitar, known as a comedian and as a teacher, he concertized and recorded extensively. He survived cancer in 1998, but passed away in 2002. Soon afterward the St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music voted to dedicate its annual spring concert to his memory.