More than 300 people enjoyed a cantorial concert where world reknowned American-based chazanut Yaakov Motzen and Sol Zim performed alongside a choir from Leeds United Hebrew Congregation.
The concert, on Monday night at Prestwich Hebrew Congregation, was part of a week of cantorial music activities including the first European Cantors Convention to take place in Manchester. Also performing were South African cantors Ezra Sher and Barry Braun, Michael Dushinsky of the Czech Republic and Germany's Benjamin Chait. They were among 40 chazanut and synagogue leaders who attended the four-day conference. The convention, the sixth to take place and designed to preserve the cantorial tradition, allowed top cantorial music experts to offer practical guidance.
South African cantor Barry Braun, a construction management consultant by day, said five years ago he could not read Hebrew but he "studied through the night when I decided to be a chazan".
Organiser Alex Klein said: "The hope is to move the event from its normal London venue to countries all over Europe."
Monday's concert was in memory of Mr Klein's brother, Rabbi Julian Klein, a cantor who died three years ago.