United Hebrew Congregation (UH) will honor Cantor Murray Hochberg and his 50 years of service  during a gala event Saturday, May 6. 

The event, which will be held at UH, starts at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed at 7:30 p.m. with dinner and remarks. 

Hochberg came to UH in August, 1967 as the first cantor to serve in that role in a Reform congregation in St. Louis. In addition to leading and participating in worship services, he served as music director for the congregation, religious school, Hebrew school and the b’nai mitzvah program.

An honors graduate of the Cantorial School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1957, Hochberg came to UH after serving many years as cantor for Union Temple in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In 1998, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music at a special convocation honoring the 50th anniversary of the Cantorial School at HUC-JIR. The St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music paid a special tribute to Hochberg in 1999, the same year he became Cantor Emeritus. Hochberg remains an active participant at UH, with his wife Joyce. He often joins Cantor Ron Eichaker of UH on the bimah for special worship, Holy Day and festival services.

The cost to attend is $90 per person. The event will include a silent auction, complimentary bar and a live band. Guests should wear cocktail attire. For more information, call Amy Stone at 314-469-0700.