Press

“[Erik Contzius gave an] amazing performance, and the live recording captures the reactions of the exhilarated fans.”

—Jake Marmer, The Arty Semite

A mention in The New York Times regarding the performance at the Bard Music Festival

Metroland’s review of the Bard Music Festival performance:

Schoenberg’s Kol Nidre, gave us an early dose of the serialism that would be balanced by Stravinsky’s use of the technique. With cantor Erik Contzius skillfully intoning the rhythm-specific text, the Bard Festival Chorus and the American Symphony reminded us how masterful this little-appreciated music can be.

—B.A. Nillson

A mention in the Congressional Record in 2012 by Representative Elliot Engel.

A review of “Further Definitions of the Days of Awe” in JazzTimes

Another review of “Further Definitions of the Days of Awe” at the KlezmerShack

From The Arty Semite, regarding the new album by the Afro-Semitic Experience, “Further Definitions of the Days of Awe” (February, 2011):

The centerpiece of the album is the 15 minute track “Sh’ma Koleinu” (“Listen to Our Voice”). Unmistakably, over and over again, the cantor appeals heavenward. Listening to the piece there is no doubt about it: This isn’t merely an aesthetic experience. Cantor Erik Contzius is publicly praying, leaping from falsetto to deeper tones, improvising across multiple tonalities as he stubbornly repeats his plea over and again, like a mantra, and the band rocks with him all the way through, prodding him and spinning him on the platform of their groove. It is an amazing performance, and the live recording captures the reactions of the exhilarated fans.

“Singing the Praises of our Mothers: A Tribute to Women Cantors” (https://elearning.huc.edu/, August 2011)

“Pastor Helps Jewish Cantor-composer With Text for Choral Work” (Catholic New York, December 2010)

“Cantor from Upper Nyack takes part in Vatican conference; New Rochelle cantor writes new composition” (LoHud.com, November 2010)

10 Minutes of Torah from the Union for Reform Judaism published my article analyzing the music of the Avot v’Imahot.

“Singing Their Praises:” A great documentation of my recent trip to Bulgaria and Israel. (The New York Jewish Week)

“Sacred Music of Universal Appeal”: A review of a performance of the Bloch Sacred Service (July 2008)

“New York cantor still has soft spot for Omaha:” a nice article from The Jewish Press of Omaha, Nebraska (February 2008)

“A Faith’s Embrace Leaves No One on the Outside:” an article about a great Bat Mitzvah experience I had (New York Times, August 2007)

What God says about your money is an article done by msn.com regarding religious attitudes towards money. I was interviewed November, 2007.

My composition, And Hannah Prayed, was recently selected to be performed at The Third International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music, taking place June 12 to 16, 2008 in Milwaukee in collaboration with The Wisconsin Society For Jewish Learning, Inc.

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