Temple Chorale

Temple is our home, and we kvell at the opportunity to be involved musically in all its activities. Of course, our first love is the glorious liturgical music that is such an integral part of worship services. We look forward each year to the High Holy Day season and its magnificent music. Temple Chorale has the best seats in the house! If you enjoy singing, please join us. Everyone is welcome.

Temple Chorale began in 1988 when Sid Gefen, a long-time, generous congregant shared his yearning to hear a congregational choir during worship. The Gefen Family Music Fund was established for this purpose.

Our first choir director, Danny Marmorstein began the arduous task of meshing a disparate group of interested, yet definitely individual, congregants into a choral unit. After an extended period of rehearsals and singing at Shabbat services, the group accepted its first BIG challenge: sing at one High Holy Day service.

Cantor Patricia Hickman and Cantor Margaret Bruner shared their love of music and their deep knowledge of liturgy, as they guided the Chorale and expanded its repertoire to include participation at all High Holy Day services; at Jazz Shabbatot and with many artists including Longineau Parsons and his ensemble, Sheldon Low, Craig Taubman, Rick Recht and Julie Silver. Cantor Carrie Barry continues this wonderful music tradition.

Chorale enjoys participating in musical opportunities within our larger community. We have sung with the Jacksonville Symphony, at multiple combined-worship services with area church choirs, the Interfaith Council’s Festival of Faith, Kristallnacht Remembrance and Yom Hashoah services. At Chanukah, Temple Chorale was joined by the Jacksonville Masterworks Chorale at Temple to perform Handel’s magnificent “Judas Maccabeus.”