Avram Mordechai Himelstein was born in Warsaw on December 16, 1905 to his father Reuven Yehuda Hacohen (1843-1929) Rosh Yeshiva in White Russia, and mother, Peshe (nee Rappoport d.1914), whose sweet voice and deep musicality left an indelible impression on him. He joined the local synagogue choir at age 6, singing there for 12 years, where he absorbed the traditional tunes of the prayers from Reb Yehoshua Reichstaler, the local davener.

His formal teachers included A. Davidowitz, the distinguished choirmaster of the Zalman Nozhik Shul; M.Shneur, conductor of the Great Popular Choir in Warsaw; Itzhak Schlossberg, conductor of the Jewish Theatre Orchestra; David Eisenstadt, choirmaster of the Great Shul in Tlomatzka Street; and Leon Zelman, conductor of the Popular Choir in Warsaw. By the age of 14, he was conducting four-voice choirs. For two years he attended the Warsaw State Academy followed by a series of performances as conductor of choirs with the great cantors of the time in Warsaw, such as Gershon Sirota, and others. He was also very active in conducting youth choirs, including one consisting of 140 choristers.

In 1936, he accepted a call from Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Rowland Street, Cape Town to act as its choir director. He arrived in South Africa bringing with him enthusiastic recommendations from great Polish musicians, such as David Eisenstadt, Avraham Tzvi Davidowitz, Pinchas Sherman, Moshe Koussevitzky and others. He was accorded excellent reviews and earned an outstanding reputation in the fields of conducting, composition and arrangement of music for cantor and Choir.

From Cape Town, he moved to Johannesburg, first to the Yeoville Synagogue, then to the Great Synagogue in Wolmarans Street, the largest synagogue in Johannesburg and the seat of the Chief Rabbi. In addition, he was active in training and conducting choirs for various Salute to Israel pageants.

Himelstein regarded the continuity and fostering of chazanut and of choral shul music as a holy mission, and he devoted much time to training both cantors and choir directors in the proper nusach. Among some of his protégés are some of the best known cantors (such as Benjamin Muller and others) and choir directors of our time.

In later years he turned to composing chazanut for cantor and choir. Two books of his compositions, Lamnatzeach (in 3 part harmony) and Lachazan, appeared during his lifetime (1971 and 1973). This new book now covers: 1) The former (now in 4 part harmony); 2) The latter; 3) A much larger quantity of compositions than in both earlier publications together. These consist of previously unpublished recitatives, works for cantor and choir and concert pieces for voice and piano.

Also included are works by some of his above mentioned mentors and friends A.Z. Davidowitz, M. Gutwerk, I. Schlossberg and L. Zelman.