January 20, 2009

Temple honors pianist

Cantors' concert is for George Bryant

Emily Kratzer
The Journal News

In the beginning, pianist and organist George Bryant was just supposed to be a one-time substitute at Temple Beth Torah in Upper Nyack.

But Cantor Don Croll and Rabbi George Stern were so impressed that they asked Bryant to continue serving the temple. Thirty years later, the temple will honor him with a concert Sunday evening.

Croll - who'll fly in from his current job in Dallas - and former Cantor Elizabeth Goldmann will perform, as will the Temple Beth Torah Choir and the St. Ann's Parish Choir.

A soft-spoken man who needs to be prompted to speak about himself, Bryant said that Croll heard him play at an ecumenical Thanksgiving service in 1977 and asked him to substitute in 1978 when the organist moved to Florida.

As musical director at St. Ann's Church in Nyack since 1966 - he had been a student there, returning to Nyack after getting a graduate degree from Juilliard - Bryant became the person the temple and church choirs had in common.

"I'd know we were on the same page when they sang together," Croll recalled.

"Chanting is common to both traditions, though not necessarily the same modes," Bryant said. "Both groups have reached out to the contemporary music scene to borrow music styles."

Bryant he's contributed musically to all aspects of temple life. He estimates that he has accompanied 25 to 30 B'nei Mitzvah children per year as they prepared for that pivotal day.

Beth Torah's current cantor, Sally Neff, says she admires his musical styles. "When we ask the Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids to learn the songs, he'll have them sing the first line and listens to the key the kids sing in, then makes a note on his music and adapts to them," Neff said.

But Bryant's commitment to music in Rockland extends beyond the liturgical. He became a founding member of the Rockland County Music Teachers' Guild in 1962 and served on the board of the state Music Teachers Association from 1988 to 2007.

Guild president Marie Cowan describes him as "quiet, gentle, loving, caring, a consummate musician. Just a sweetheart. He takes his time, he's thoughtful. I don't ever remember him saying anything that would hurt anyone. He's a private, intelligent individual who is a brilliant mind and musician."

"His optimistic nature made him a comfort to new members or troubled friends. He has a wry sense of humor, which is cloaked in a shy social persona. We always deferred to his wisdom," said former guild president Rhoda Forte of New City.

Ed Simons, Rockland Symphony Orchestra musical director, recalled their first performance together, a sonata for violin and piano. He said Bryant hauled a portable keyboard to several later concerts so that a harpsichord voice would be part of the performances.

Bryant also was one of three founders of the Brotherhood Through Music concerts that were presented by the Irving Siegel Unit of Rockland B'nai B'rith from 1980 to 2005.

B'nai B'rith member Bill Pamm of Suffern helped present many of the concerts and calls Bryant "a musical legend in Rockland County. The purpose (of the Brotherhood Through Music concert) was to get various ethnic and religious groups together in music, song and dance. He's outstanding."

For the first concert, Bryant brought together the Rockland County Catholic Choir. One of its stalwarts, St. Ann's Parish Choir conductor Vincent Green, said that the choir's membership reflects Bryant's attitude that music is for everyone.

"It's very easy as a professional musician to choose to work with only the elite, the best musicians," Green said. "George has never been that person. There is no audition for Parish Choir or the Rockland County Catholic Choir, only a voice placement. All that is needed is interest and enthusiasm."