Cantor Ephraim Biran
Cantor Emeritus
Cantor Ephraim Biran was born in Tel Aviv in 1925 and studied voice in Israel and Italy. A frequent guest soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, appearing under the direction of such conductors as Dmitri Mitropolous, Alfred Wallenstein and Carlo Maria Giulini, Cantor Biran came to New York in 1962. He served as Cantor of Rodeph Sholom from 1963 until his retirement in 1994.
He was the baritone soloist in a Carnegie Hall performance of Ernest Bloch’s “Sacred Service” with the Collegiate Chorale in 1964, conducted by Abraham Kaplan. In the same year he sang the world premiere of Igor Stravinksy’s “Abraham and Isaac” in Jerusalem, written for baritone and chamber orchestra and commissioned by the state of Israel. Cantor Biran was the Music Director for the Channel 13/WNET program “Hear Our Voices,” which was broadcast live from Rodeph Sholom in 1971.
Under his direction, the Rodeph Sholom Children’s Choir was created in 1974 and includes children from both the Day and Religious Schools. He appeared frequently in concerts and on television, and was instrumental in furthering the cause of contemporary music for the synagogue through his active program of commissions and performances.