Born in Vienna, Emil Gartner (1914-1960), pictured here with his daughter Esther in 1953, immigrated to Canada in 1938. Gartner became conductor of Toronto’s Jewish Folk Choir in 1939 and quickly earned recognition for his influential and dynamic style. Under his leadership, the choir’s repertoire expanded to include Canadian, Yiddish and Hebrew folk songs and regularly performed with world renowned guests.

Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre