Marjorie Hochberg is marking her 20th year as Temple Emanu-El鈥檚 cantorial soloist this summer, and it鈥檚 an anniversary that many people in the midtown temple say is pretty extraordinary.
鈥淭wenty years is a long time for anyone to be serving a congregation,鈥 Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Batsheva Appel said. 鈥淚t is definitely a significant anniversary.鈥
And significant anniversaries warrant significant celebrations.
On Thursday, June 13, Hochberg will be the center of attention when Temple Emanu-El hosts a special concert in her honor.
Hochberg will share the stage with former Temple Emanu-El music director and pianist Chris Tackett and pianist Rouzbeh Tebyanian in a concert that will include songs from theater and opera as well as some of Hochberg鈥檚 favorite Jewish songs. Violinist Rachel Saul, a former student of Hochberg who plays with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, also will perform.
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The highlight of the concert, though, will find Hochberg off stage listening to the world premiere performances of two works written for the occasion by composer Lewis Saul, Rachel Saul鈥檚 father, and by Temple Emanu-El Music Director Robert Lopez-Hanshaw.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been lucky to have such continuity鈥 in that position, Lopez-Hanshaw said of Hochberg鈥檚 role as cantorial soloist. 鈥淪he鈥檚 given most of her life really to working at this organization.鈥
鈥淚 really wanted to do this job,鈥 said Hochberg, 65, who studied music and voice as an undergrad. 鈥淭he work that I鈥檓 doing is something I really love doing. And it鈥檚 the kind of job where the scenery changes all the time. Every year you have new students and new challenges. In Judaism, there are always new things to learn. And it鈥檚 been a real pleasure to share what I鈥檝e learned with my students, both children and adults.鈥
Hochberg鈥檚 relationship with Temple Emanu-El started when she moved to 蜜柚直播 in 1981 from her native Seattle, Washington, to attend graduate school at the University of 蜜柚直播.
She soon landed a job teaching the Torah tots program every other Sunday. That led to a job teaching music and the Torah to older kids in fourth, sixth and seventh grades to help them prepare for their bar and bat mitzvahs.
鈥淎ll this time I was doing all kinds of different jobs鈥 to make ends meet, including selling annuities and working as a paralegal for a local law firm, she said. 鈥淥n that journey I realized I was really kind of happiest at Temple, doing the teaching that I was doing.鈥
When Temple Emanu-El found itself without a cantorial soloist 20 years ago, they tapped Hochberg, whose job includes leading parts of services and playing a big role in Saturday morning Torah readings.
鈥淚 get to be a musician with a full-time job and benefits,鈥 Hochberg said. 鈥淣ot many people can say that.鈥
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
