To subscribe to the print magazine, go to www. Flaxman in the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, You were working regularly as an opera singer, you had a manager, and you were receiving strong reviews.
What made you decide to leave the opera world and become a cantor? Although I loved being on the road, meeting new people, and seeing new places, the life of a freelance artist is extremely challenging even when things are going well.
When my wife and I decided that we wanted children, the road became far less appealing. The idea of becoming a cantor was always in the back of my mind. I was named after my grandfather, Joseph, who died before I was born. He apparently loved to sing and he wished that he had time to be more religiously observant. It was his dream to become a cantor.
From time to time I wondered whether I could be the one to fulfill his dream. My hometown rabbi influenced my thinking too. When I left for my undergraduate studies, he told me that I could always go to cantorial school in the future.
My occasional musings took more shape when I sang in the choir at Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan. There I had the opportunity to observe Cantor Azi Schwartz.
I was deeply inspired and moved by his singing. It connected me to the music and to the faith of my ancestors on a visceral level.
I think the seeds of my future were being planted during those services. Later, when I was on the road, I usually attended some services at local synagogues. These experiences were awesome, and they further increased my interest in becoming a Jewish musical professional. Because you leaned more toward the Reform movement rather than Conservative Judaism, you chose the former. Tell me about your studies so far.
Students also participate in regular voice recitals; and are eligible to audition for the internationally recognized Zamir Chorale of Boston. All students will study privately with expert voice teachers. Voice lessons are an integral part of our vocal arts curriculum. These lessons are included at no additional cost. Each student is assigned a cantorial coach for each semester, and coaching sessions are crafted to meet the needs of the individual student.
Coaching focuses on leading tefillah , officiating at Jewish lifecycle events, songs for the Jewish year, and guitar proficiency. As more cantors are being asked to fill pastoral roles and more rabbis are being asked to take on musical leadership of their congregations, Hebrew College recognizes that the time has come to merge innovative musical education with pluralistic rabbinical training.
The result is our first-of-its-kind Rav-Hazzan rabbi-cantor double ordination program. The Rav-Hazzan program awards both rabbinic and cantorial ordination, preparing rabbis and cantors for leadership in twenty-first century Jewish communities.
View Rabbinical and Cantorial Faculty Bios. Apply online now. Curriculum: Become a Cantor. A Rich and Innovative Curriculum The Cantorial Ordination Program offers a five-year diverse and multi-faceted curriculum that prepares you to serve as a spiritual and musical leader for communities across the denominational spectrum.
David Wolff, Cantorial Alumnus. The Cantorial Curriculum is built on these Core Competencies and Courses: Hebrew All courses that are part of the Core Competencies curriculum will require at least an intermediate level of Hebrew comprehension, grammar and verbal ability. Jewish Music Repertoire Classes The Jewish music history curriculum will immerse you in the context and sources of Jewish music.
Professional Skills Classes. All semesters Students will sing with the Hebrew College chamber choir, Kol Arev —a music ensemble composed of students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Hebrew College. In addition to spending large amounts of time working with and attending to the needs of children and families, cantors also help members of the congregation through major life events that fall anywhere on the spectrum from joyous to devastating—a duty that requires empathy, sensitivity, and genuine caring.
Cantors usually work six days per week, including Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday mornings, and all major religious holidays. As pastoral caregivers, they are sometimes called upon to serve individuals in their community outside of work hours, whether that means making a typical social call, paying a visit to a hospitalized congregation member, or providing emotional support in the wake of an unexpected tragedy.
The work is demanding and the hours are long, but such is a life of service, and the rewards—both spiritual and emotional—are great. Don't see what you're looking for? Main Site Berklee. Career Communities. Also Called.
Related to. Careers in Church and Worship. Careers in Performance. Careers in Atlanta. In This Section. At a Glance Career Path. Finding Work.
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