Mikhail Manevich, tenor
Mikhail Manevich was appointed Cantor with the Washington Hebrew Congregation in 1989. Washington Hebrew Congregation is one of the largest and most prestigious Reform congregations in the United States. During the past five years, Cantor Manevich has continued the great musical tradition of Washington Hebrew Congregation established by his predecessors, Dr. Herman Berlinski and Cantor Roy Garber. Through his with with the Congregation choir "Kol Rinah," Youth Choir, his numerous programs and concerts in the community, he has brough a new and exciting dimension to the office of the Cantor.
Cantor Mikhail Manevich was born in Leningrad, USSR. From 1960 to 1970 he attended Glinka's Choir School where he sang in the All Boys' Choir and studied piano, conducting, music harmony, and theory. From 1970 to 1975 the Cantor was a student at the Leningrad State Conservatory of Music, from which he received a degree in choral conducting.
Mikhail and his wife Ema emigrated to the United States in 1976 and settled in New York. From 1977 to 1982 he studied at the School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College. During these studies, Mikhail was asked to be a conductor of the Hebrew Union College Choir which he subsequently led in many performances for the next three years.
In 1980 Mikhail began studying with renowned voice instructors Marinka Gurewich and Martin Rich. As a result of this instruction, Cantor Manevich gave two solo recitals—one each at Carnegie Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall.
Upon graduation from the Hebrew Union College in 1982, Cantor Manevich accepted a the position of Cantor with Temple Emanu-El in Livingston, New Jersey where he served until joining the Washington Hebrew Congregation.
October 21, 1995