Ken Friese
Ken Friese has been involved with pianos, organs and singing since he was a teenager in Brooklyn. At sixteen he was the organist and choir director at The Fisherman’s Methodist Church in Bay Ridge. At seventeen, before leaving for college, he assumed the same duties at his home church, All Souls Universalist. There he conducted a thirty voice adult choir from the organ.
At college he received a BS in Music Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam, followed by an MM in Applied Organ from Boston University.
He then moved to Long Island, where he taught at several schools and eventually took over the choral program at Plainview-Old Bethpage High School and then Kennedy High School, both in Plainview. His high school choirs have performed at four NYSSMA conventions, have received numerous level six gold with distinction awards, and performed many concerts in states ranging from Massachusetts to Virginia. In Plainview, Ken also taught two levels of music theory and served as accompanist for all the vocal and instrumental NYSSMA solos for over twenty years. His high school choirs have toured Mexico, Great Britain, and Wales.
During that time Ken had always been envious of his organ professor who held a job in the church and the temple while he was living in St. Louis. After years of waiting, a call came in from the Cantor at the Community Reform Temple in Westbury. They had received word that Ken played the organ. They asked him if he would like to do so at the temple. Although Ken knew nothing about the service he accepted. Thus began a new chapter in his life, eventually leading to Temple Beth El in Huntington. At that time Ken was getting comfortable at Old First Church which was less than five minutes away.
This began an association and friendship that’s lasted for over four decades. One that Ken will cherish forever. Thanks to Rabbi Jeff, Cantor Alison, and all of the congregants of Temple Beth El for being you!
