RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Manfred Knoop, who led a robust music ministry at the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Wyckoff and who promoted the choral heritage of his German homeland, died Monday at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. He was 62 and lived in River Edge.
He had stomach cancer, his family said.
St. Elizabeth's feted Mr. Knoop (pronounced kuh-NOOP) in October on his 25th anniversary as director of music. A special Mass and a choral concert were held in his honor.
Mr. Knoop conducted four music groups at the Roman Catholic church, including the 50-member Festival Chorale, the main choir. He took church members on singing tours throughout Europe. "We've sung everywhere as ambassadors of goodwill — cathedrals, restaurants, airports," said Jim Bruni, a Festival Chorale member.
Cheryl Spirer-Wyka, a St. Elizabeth cantor, said Mr. Knoop's strength was instilling confidence in choir members.
"Most of the core members are not professionals, and Manfred had a way of bringing out the best in them, of letting them know that if they worked hard, the payoff would be great," she said.
"He knew when to push, but he also knew when he could not go somewhere musically."
Outside of his work at St. Elizabeth's, Mr. Knoop conducted two German-American singing groups — Sangerchor Newark, an 86-year-old men's chorus, and Schwabischer Sangerbund of New Jersey, a 126-year-old mixed chorus. He also owned a professional recording studio, Twinz Records.
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