On Nov. 4, Cantor Ken Richmond, a recent graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary's cantorial school, was installed at Midway Jewish Center, Syosset as the new cantor. Over 600 people were in attendance for this rousing event. The evening's festivities included a musical performance by the fourth- and fifth-grade Hebrew school classes. Cantor Richmond played the violin and his wife, Shira Shazeer, played the accordian as they led the audience in singing an old Yiddish folk song. The speakers for the evening included Rabbi Emeritus Ezra Finkelstein and Rabbi "Rafi" Rank, the current rabbi. They spoke of the rich cantorial history within Midway's walls and the tremendous exuberance and vitality that Cantor Richmond brings as another generation takes to the bimah to lead the congregation in public prayer.

Fellow cantors spoke about the warmth of the cantor and the way he can challenge the status quo and yet feel so comfortable in the traditions of the Jewish people. When Cantor San Levine spoke, he mentioned that Cantor Richmond asked him to participate and when he asked what should he talk about, Cantor Ken said, "Only say nice things!" Cantor Levine commented how this was one of the easiest jobs he ever had to do.

Cantor Richmond was a winner of the prestigious Wexner Graduate Fellowship for his studies. He is a graduate of Yale University where he earned a double major in music and pre-med. Before attending cantorial school he tested the water as a cantor in Massachusetts and found his deep love of Jewish communal work and the beauty of Conservative Judaism. He has written new music for Shabbat services on Friday night and performed in his own Klezmer group, along with his wife.

Cantor Richmond has already added his own flavor to services through his intermixing of new chants with the traditional and adding Hasidic niggunim throughout the service. The shiddach of the cantor, rabbi and congregation appears seamless and should lead to a fruitful collaboration as the years pass.