Bio

Demonstrating deep love and commitment toward his field of endeavor, Cantor Erik Contzius’ unique sounds beautifully reflect his relationship with the Divine, which is clearly evident in his pulpit presence and original compositions.

And while his passion for music ranges from Hazzanut (cantorial art music) to Yiddish folk songs, as well as Opera and Broadway melodies, Cantor Contzius is most at home on the pulpit leading prayer.

Cantor Contzius presently serves as the Cantor of Temple Israel of New Rochelle, and has served as Cantor at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and Temple Israel of Omaha, Nebraska. He has also served as Composer-in-Residence at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester, and in 2009 at Mifgash Musicale, a joint program of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in conjunction with the American Conference of Cantors and the Guild of Temple Musicians.

Cantor Contzius has composed many original works for the synagogue, most recently a setting of Psalm 116 in Hebrew and Latin which had its world premiere in November 2010 at the Vatican. Other notable compositions are: The Travelers’ Prayer, Hineh Ma Tov and Shalom Rav, which have been published by Transcontinental Music Publications, as well as a large self-published catalogue. His composition, And Hannah Prayed, was recently selected to be performed in The Third International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music sponsored by Shalshelet.

His compositions and voice also appear on several recordings, including Teach My Lips a Blessing: The Music of Erik Contzius, recorded with the Amor Artis Chamber Choir, and a solo collection of Jewish art music for both cantor and pipe organ interpretations entitled How Excellent is Thy Name. He has appeared as a soloist on the recording Celebrate Chanukah with the Westminster Choir College’s Youth Chorale.

Cantor Contzius has performed in many distinguished solo concerts including:

• “Further Definitions of the Days of Awe” with the Afro-Semitic Experience (NYC, 2010)
• Mozart’s Requiem, with Varna International (Israel, 2010)
• Darius Milhaud’s Service Sacré with the Westchester Chorale (Larchmont, NY 2010)
• Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service (Avodat Hakodesh) with the Menno Singers (Kitchener, Ontario, 2009)
• Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service (Avodat Hakodesh) with the Songs of Life festival (Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria and Petah Tikva and Jerusalem, Israel, 2008)
• Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Westchester Chorale (New Rochelle, 2008)
• “Vergessene Musik—The Forgotten Music of the German Jewish Reform Movement,” (Münich, Germany)
• Concert: “Let Freedom Sing,” (Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.)
• International Organ Festival of Göteborg (Göteborg, Sweden, 1998)

His vocal training is ongoing, having studied with Tom Lomonaco, Carlos Serrano, David Adams, Dr. Donald Roberts, and currently with Richard Slade.

Raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, Cantor Contzius received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Rutgers College and then went on to study abroad at the University of York, England. He received his Master of Sacred Music degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, School of Sacred Music, studying in Israel and New York City. Cantor Contzius is a proud member of the American Conference of Cantors. He resides in New Rochelle, New York with his lovely wife Monica and his son Jacob.