Log4J Ignores log4j.LogLevel

I have an external file called "log4j.properties" that is being utilized. I
know this since the log file is being created. However, the logging level
(log4j.LogLevel) is being ignored. Please help me find where I am going
wrong.

My code, with all the fluff removed, is:
    private static Logger _myLogger = null;
    private static Log _apacheLog = null;

    public Logger()
    {
    }

    public static synchronized Logger getInstance( final Class
runtimeClass )
    {
        if( null == _myLogger )
        {
            _myLogger = new Logger();
        }
        if( null == _apacheLog )
        {
            PropertyConfigurator.configure( "./config/log4j.properites" );
            _apacheLog = LogFactory.getLog( runtimeClass );
        }
        return _myLogger;
    }

The properties file is:
    log4j.LogLevel=INFO

    log4j.rootCategory=, A1, A2

    # Set properties for appender A1 (Rolling File Appender)
    log4j.appender.A1=org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender
    log4j.appender.A1.File=MyReallyCoolApp_log_file.Log
    log4j.appender.A1.Append=false
    log4j.appender.A1.MaxFileSize=500KB
    log4j.appender.A1.MaxBackupIndex=1
    log4j.appender.A1.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout
    log4j.appender.A1.layout.ConversionPattern=(%d{yyyy MMM dd
HH:mm:ss.SSS}) %-5p [%t]: %m%n

    # Set properties for appender A2 (Console Appender)
    log4j.appender.A2=org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender
    log4j.appender.A2.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout
    log4j.appender.A2.layout.ConversionPattern=(%d{dd MMM yyyy
HH:mm:ss.SSS}) %-5p [%t]: %m%n

    # Logging specific to Jakarta Commons Configuration (3rd party open
source)
    log4j.logger.org.apache=ERROR

Thank you.

Kevin D. Sandal