Cantor Arik Wollheim: 11/22/09

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Shalom from Jerusalem

Not quite the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but yet another gathering of "Stamford-ites" in Jerusalem.

Happy Thanksgiving and Shabbat Shalom

from Cantor Arik in Jerusalem

Congregation Agudath Sholom | 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue | Stamford | CT | 06902

Cantor Arik Wollheim

Cantor Arik Wollheim, born and raised in Israel, has served as Chazzan of Congregation Agudath Sholom of Stamford, CT since July 2001. Graduated from Yeshivah Yavneh, he then became the head soloist of the Israeli Military Choir. Arik holds both Bachelors (Brooklyn College) as well as Masters (SUNY Purchase) degrees in Music & Opera studies. Despite his young age, Arik has already performed in a variety of over 30 roles both in Opera and concert works. In recent years Arik has been performing extensively at concerts of Cantorial, Jewish and Israeli music throughout the world.

His accomplishments include winning the famous Hassidic Song Festival in Israel (1994), being a scholarship recipient of the American-Israel Cultural Foundation both 1995 and 1996, winning the Sharet Competition in 1997-98 and being selected a member of the International Vocal Arts Institute conducted by the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City since 1997. In 2004 he released his solo CD “Return to Zion” a collection of Cantorial works accompanied by a full Symphony Orchestra.

First imbued with the love and foundations for the cantorial art by his father, Arik advanced his studies with the legendary cantor Itzhak Eshel. Cantor Wollheim has been teaching B'nai Mitzvah for 20 years, and has created and led adult and youth choruses both in Israel and the US. He has led inspiring Shabbat and holiday services at approximately 100 synagogues in four continents and has become known for his unique approach and style of Davening.

On December 2008 Arik moved to Israel, commuting to CT every month and currently is also studying at Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a PhD conducting research on contemporary chazzanut as a case study in ethnomusicology.

Arik, his wife Tehilah and their daughter Yehudit live in Jerusalem.