Allen Sever

Music Director

Allen Sever has been the Music Director and Organist of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue for forty–two years. He is also the long–standing Music Director and Organist since 1956 at the West End Collegiate Church, on the Organ Faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and is an accompanist at Hebrew Union College.

His concert appearances include the Welch Chorale, the John Harms Chorus, the Ars Musica Chorale, the choirs of St. James Church, and St. Bartholomew’s Church, NY. Organ recitals include St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University, St. Bartholomew’s Church, West End Collegiate Church and Congregation Emanu–El, all in New York City.

The American Conference of Cantors honored Mr. Sever in their 2003 ACC Convention when he played the organ at Congregation Emanu–El at one of the services. At the invitation of the ACC in 2001, he attended the 350th anniversary of the establishment of Mikve Israel–Emanuel Synagogue of Curacao where he was the accompanist at a concert conducted by Ben Steinberg. The Covenant, a cantata dedicated to Allen Sever by composer Ben Steinberg, was commissioned by the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue for his 25th anniversary and premiered at Stephen Wise in 1987.

Allen Sever earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Northwestern University School of Music, Evanston, Illinois, Master of Sacred Music Degree from the Union Theological Seminary, School of Sacred Music, NY, and he earned a Fulbright Scholarship to the Royal School of Church Music, London, England. He also earned an Associate Degree from the American Guild of Organists. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists and a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians. Mr. Sever may be heard on recordings with the Welch Chorale, Choir of Hebrew Union College, and accompanist for cantorial recordings produced by Barry Serota.