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Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2010 19:06

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Emily Blank
Jaclyn Chernett
Helen Chuckrow
Joanne Couch
Mary Feinsinger
Isabelle Ganz
Judy Caplan Ginsburgh
Ellie Glantz
Abby Gostein
Linda Hirschhorn
Natasha J. Hirschhorn
Terry Horowit
Iris Jacobs
Deborah Jacobson
Marcie Jonas
Robin Anne Joseph
Chana Karmann-Lente
Deborah Katchko Gray
Joy Katzen-Guthrie
Carol Boyd Leon
Rebecca Levant
Judith Levy
Jinny Marsh
Anna Ott
Cindy Paley
Orit Perlman
Jane Roman Pitt
Ilene Safyan
Pamela Rothmann Sawyer
Rebecca Schwartz
Robbi Sherwin
Shirona
Stephanie Shore
Rachelle Shubert
Judy S. Tellerman
Rica Timman
Aviva Timonier
Marci Vitkus
Lois Welber


Emily Blank serves as cantor for Temple Shalom Aleichem in Columbia, MD and officiates at life-cycle events free-lance. Visit her Website.
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Chazan Jaclyn Chernett MPhil ALCM (www.chazan.org.uk) is a founder and Vice-President of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues in Great Britain. She is also a past Vice-President of Masorti Olami (the World Council of Synagogues), the international arm of the Conservative Movement. She was the prime mover in founding the first Conservative Synagogue in the UK and one of the founders of its new sister congregation, Kol Nefesh Masorti. This is the first fully egalitarian community in the UK and as a result of its inception she has been able to participate as its Chazan. Chazan Chernett is a Jewish musicologist and educator. Her MPhil thesis was devoted to Ashkenazi biblical chant and she teaches, writes and lectures on Jewish religious issues and in particular liturgical studies. She received cantorial ordination in 2006 from Rabbi Dr Martin Cooper, Chazan Sol Zim and Chazan Ken Cohen at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralist Rabbinical and Cantorial School in New York. Chazan Chernett is the first woman in the UK to be ordained as a Cantor. Her current work includes the foundation of the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy - EAJL - a multi-level, multi-national and multi-media teaching facility for inspired leaders of Synagogue prayer.
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Please visit this website which showcases Helen Chuckrow's recordings (an audio cassette and a CD): "Traditions of Biblical Cantillation", Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. There are demos, too.
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Joanne Couch, husband and friends make joyful music together as Bright Seraphim.
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Mary Feinsinger's music is available through www.maryfeinsinger.com .
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Isabelle Ganz - visit her HomePage and The Glory of Sephardic Music
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Judy Caplan Ginsburgh is a multi-award winning cantorial soloist, recording artist, singer and educator specializing in Jewish music and Early Childhood Music. Her very first recordings for families were made to preserve traditional Jewish music for future generations. After producing several recordings of traditional Jewish music, Judy began writing more of her own music. Her songs can be found in collections by the Cantors' Assembly, Transcontinental Music and URJ press and her CDs are available worldwide. Judy has also produced a CD which teaches basic sign language and signing Hebrew Songs and Blessings. She travels around the U.S. and Canada, singing on pulpits, presenting family concerts and teaching at educational conferences and teacher in-service events. To find out more, visit Judy's website at judymusic.And to find out more about Judy's non-profit which brings healing arts to those in need, visit artsandhealthcare.
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Ellie Glantz, Cantorial Soloist, is connected to the congregation through her voice and brings an authentic and potent presence to litrugy and music. With experience in congregations in Canada and the United States, Ellie has supported congregants in their individual and collective needs through personal initiatives, both musical and non-musical. In leading worship, she marries her professional abilities with her warm personal presence. Ellie enjoys new and diverse challenges and is open and available to travel, providing locum opportunities for congregations with short or long-term need. Also, she offers workshops in: Optimizing your Choir's Potential; Music as Prayer; Introducing New Music to your Congregation to name a few. Please visit her website at: ellieglantz to find out more about her and to listen to her voice.
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Abby Gostein's sheet music, recordings and more information about her music are available through abbygostein, etranscon, oysongs, and cdbaby. Abby’s compositions are crafted to be both moving and accessible, with memorable melodies and contemporary harmonies. They are intended to be flexible in nature, and easily usable by cantor or soloist, congregation or choir. Her works have been sung throughout the United States and internationally. Abby began composing Jewish liturgical music in 1986, at which time she began a long-term involvement with Jewish musical leadership, from youth group and summer camp songleading to choral conducting, music teaching, and leading congregations in song and prayer. Gostein has served URJ congregations as Cantorial Soloist since 1994 and currently serves in that capacity for Temple Beth Shalom in Austin, Texas. She holds an M.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. from Yale University, where she organized and led the first Jewish singing group on campus. She is proud to have been given the opportunity in 2006 to write a WCN-commissioned “L’chu N’ran’na”. Abby is excited to announce the June, 2009 release of her debut CD, Each Blessing.
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Linda Hirschhorn is the director of the Women's A cappella ensemble Vocolot, tours both as a soloist and with her group, has released seven recordings and two songbooks of original music, is the Cantor at Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro, California and officiates at all lifecycle events. Linda's music is a staple at many synagogues and has been recorded by dozens of other artists all around the world. Here are Linda's websites: WeddingCelebrant, LindaHirschhorn, and Vocolot
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Natasha J. Hirschhorn has released her first CD of original liturgical music, "They Call Me". You can find out more about Natasha's work as composer, singer, pianist and musicologist or order her music at her Website. For all creative souls! Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Liturgical Music is awaiting your submissions for the upcoming 2004 Festival in Washington, D.C. To find out more, please visit Shalshelet. Natasha J. Hirschhorn is vice-president of Shalshelet.
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Please visit this web page, to learn about Terry Horowit's exciting new group, Shalshelet, which specializes in original compositions of Jewish music.
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Iris Jacobs, founder of Hayom, has been helping families in the greater Boston area celebrate Life Cycle Events with joy, music, prayer and song for the last 30 years. See Ha-Yom...
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Deborah Jacobson, Cantor at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor, Florida, recently released her new CD, "Bimah to Broadway, Act 1". This CD along with her other CD, "Shabbat Unplugged" can be ordered by calling 727-785-8811 or click on CDBaby. You can find out more about her work as Cantor, Singer, and Author at her Website.
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A new voice in Jewish music that will move your soul. Marcie Jonas announces the debut of her CD "timeless". Marcie's CD is a collection of original music based on liturgy and text. "timeless" is available through Marcie's Website.
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Robin Anne Joseph has performed and recorded her original music as one half of the duo B'shert and now solo, with the release of her recording "Ta'amod--Stand Up!" Winner of the American Zionist Movement's First Annual Song Competition in 1994, Robin's unique style of storytelling through song, MidraShir, has been acclaimed nationwide. Robin's liturgical compositions have been sung in synagogues cross the United States and her "Adonai Mah Adam", "Yih'yu L'ratzon", and "Hinei Anochi Sholeiach" have been published through Transcontinental Music Publications. Robin is the cantor at Temple Beth Shalom in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.
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Chana Karmann-Lente has founded Kehilat Beit Shira, the only Masorti congregation in Metropolitan Hamburg / Germany. Serving as a cantorial soloist at Beit Shira, she's devoting her free time to studying traditional Nussach at the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy (EAJL). Visit her synagogue's website for more information (or even better, visit Beit Shira in person!)
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Deborah Katchko Gray is a fourth generation cantor and the second woman to serve a conservative congregation. She is the Founder and Past President of the Women Cantors' Network. She is featured on the Jewish Online Radio website under Blessings and Songs. The Cantors Assembly CD The Spirit of Israel includes her "Ed Dodim" and she is also included in The Spirit of Hannukah, with the children's song, Ner Li. Her CD, "A Sacred Spirit - Music Shabbat at Temple Shearith Israel" features artists including the Tourmaline String Quartet, the TSI Adult Choir, Deborah Katchko, with Rabbi Jon Haddon as guest artist. Elie Wiesel had to say about this CD, "Your songs bring joy to my heart." Her other recordings include Kinder Songs, a Jewish Family sing-alone. Another CD, Music Shabbat at TSI features again the Tourmaline String Quartet, the Ridgefield Chorale, and a gorgeous Yiddish Folk Song suite by our own Cantor Annie Rose. Her version of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav was chosen for Tara's international Jewish Songbook recording. All proceeds will benefit the Cantor's Music Fund at TSI - for more information on ordering the CD contact Deborah at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , CD Baby or OySongs. Deborah recently sang in Ireland for the Tziporah Children's Music Festival and received a wonderful review in Leinster Leader. Additional links for Deborah are: musicishere, earbuzz, and cantordebbie.
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Composer-lyricist, pianist, producer/arranger, and cantorial soloist Joy Katzen-Guthrie is devoted to uplifting, empowering, and inspiring through a weave of history and storytelling with traditional, contemporary, and original songs. Through her songs as well as those from Israeli, Yiddish, pop, stage, film, and world genres, Joy has developed her music to be a portal to healing and creativity, joy, awakening, self-realization, support and renewal. Says Donna Klein, founder of Tampa Bay's Women Musicians Alliance: "Joy is a marvel on the keyboard, making her playing seem effortless. Her compositions, as well as her adaptations of others' songs, reflect the summation that it is her life. When she sits down at the keyboard, starts playing, smiles that warm smile of hers and sings to your heart, well it's just inspirational!” From The Tampa Tribune: "The music here is full of personal revelation and celebratory wonder, but it is refreshingly happy in its absolutes. And groovy, too. Hold it, a happy album? When was the last time you heard one of those? Free of angst, minus preachy platitudes, Katzen-Guthrie manages what so few singers do — to make you feel hopeful without being weighed down by sickly sentiment. She sings her anthems softly, mixed in with groovy guitars, cool cellos and all sorts of other instruments, showcasing a voice that has rare sing-along quality." A Memphis, Tennessee native who has made her home in the Tampa Bay area since 1981, Joy melds a repertoire of some 3,500 compositions with musical history, uplifting stories, insightful memories, and sing-along in congregation, classroom, concert hall, and in ten published recordings. In the words of Tarpon Springs Montessori Academy Director Gail Gilmore, her programs are an "opportunity to explore culture beyond the limit of four walls." With her husband Mark, she operates Tune-of-the-Century Music® [Katzen and Guthrie Associates, Inc.], Broadcast Studio Design/Integration services and studio/remote recording services for a roster of musicians and organizations. Since 2000, Joy has created and served as Scholar-In-Residence for six Jewish heritage tours throughout China. She is also a contributing writer to the 2007 edition of the Encylopedia Judaica on the Jews of Alaska, and her photographs of China have been published worldwide in connection with writings of the Jewish communities of China, past and present. Visit her her site, on Facebook, CD Baby, and Amazon.
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Songwriter Carol Boyd Leon's publications include her "Voices In Prayer" songbook and reference recordings of 50 liturgical songs for congregational singing; "Jewish Life Cycle" songbook; "Songs from the Heart: Family Shabbat" songbook and CD; "Gan Shirim" songbook and double-CD of 70 Jewish songs for children published by KTAV; "A Healing Service in Song" DVD of 13 songs of hope and healing sung by her adult choir; and several octavo scores for volunteer choirs. Her newest publication is "Dayenu! A Passover Haggadah for Families and Children" (with CD) published by KTAV and available at Barnes & Noble. Carol's music, songbooks and haggadah are all available at her Website which also includes mp3 downloads as well as free reference recordings and sound samples.
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Rebecca Levant is an itinerant cantorial soloist, providing High Holiday services in the United States to small congregations. A specialist in Jewish and Sephardic music, she offers CDs, cantorial services, concerts, faith/music workshops and celebrations of life cycle events. She especially enjoys co-officiating at interfaith weddings and designing shared rituals for the bridal couple. Please visit rebeccalevant for audios samples, CD purchases, mp3 downloads and music & wedding services.
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Judith Levy -- the rich, evocative soprano of Judith Levy reflects the depth and breadth of the music she has performed over her career. Operatically trained in Canada and England, Judith infuses cantorial music with the performance quality of classical Art Songs. Her CD "THREADS OF BLUE - 18 Songs of the Jewish Experience" weaves together aspects of Jewish religion, languages, cultures and traditions, touching milestones in the Jewish religious calendar and life cycle; Sabbath and High Holidays; love, marriage, birth, death; folk and liturgical songs in Yiddish, Ladino and Hebrew. THREADS OF BLUE is available at cdbaby (World-Judaica).
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Jinny Marsh is a licensed wedding officiant in Virginia and Washington, D.C. and will perform weddings in Maryland as well. Visit her website for her to officiate Jewish and interfaith weddings as a cantor at www.hotkugelklezmerband.com/weddingofficiant. Jinny also has a klezmer band, please visit her Hot Kugel Klezmer Band website which features audio clips from their latest CD, gig updates and information about the band.
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Anna Ott has an interesting background which has come to its full fruition in the cantorate. See the link to her temple's Website.
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Cindy Paley's spirited and energetic style engages listeners of all ages and provides a positive vehicle for educating and entertaining. Cindy's newest CD is "Yavo Shalom", Israeli songs of peace with singable English verses. Visit her Website for concert information and audio clips from her numerous CD's.
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Orit Perlman, cantorial soloist from Haifa, Israel, oritperlman, recently released a disk in collaboration with HUC Jerusalem called "Tfilotai", that can be purchased through CDBaby.
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Jane Roman Pitt has been writing songs ever since she discovered, at 15, that if she played guitar instead of oboe she could sing at the same time. Following early years of college concerts and coffeehouse gigs, Jane recorded “This Beautiful Feeling” for Unity Records. Two albums followed: “Wind Off the Water,” recorded in Nashville and produced by Grammy winner Mac Gayden, and “Peace of the River,” recorded with some of the Detroit area’s finest jazz musicians. Jane’s choral pieces are published by Transcontinental Music Publications, and distributed by Hal Leonard. Winner of the Grand Prize at the Amadeus Choral Competition, Jane’s pieces range from the mixed meter counterpoint of “If I Take The Wings” to the pop-oriented “I Am of Sarah.” Jane's brand-new lullaby CD is "Midnight Lullaby", featuring cool bedtime songs written by today's songwriters: Wilco, Josh Ritter, Dixie Chicks, Sade, Dylan, Donovan, etc. . . Recorded and produced in Nashville by Grammy-winner Mac Gayden and some of Nashville's best musicians, this soothing CD is meant for all ages from babies to grownups! It is available at CD Baby or through her website.
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Ilene Safyan is a teacher, singer/songwriter and cantorial soloist in Portland, Oregon. Visit her Website where you can find out more about the award winning recordings of Ilene Safyan and Margie Rosenthal. Twice recognized by Parents' Choice Magazine for excellence in childrens' recordings (for their "Just in Time for Chanukah!" and "Where Dreams are Born") and also by Parents' Guide to Children's Media, Ilene and Margie weave rich harmonies into their music to create a wonderful listening and learning experience for all ages.
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Pamela Rothmann Sawyer is cantor at Temple Israel in Alameda, California. She conducts Kol Tru'ah, the Jewish choir of the East Bay. Visit the temple's Website.
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Rebecca Schwartz serves as cantorial soloist, songleader and educator at Old York Road Temple - Beth Am and Congregation Kol Ami in the Philadelphia area. She is also an award-winning Jewish liturgical composer published by Shalshelet and The Union for Reform Judaism. Visit her Website.
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Robbi Sherwin, Spiritual Leader of Congregation Bnai Butte in Crested Butte. CO (BnaiButte) is not only a cantor but one of the most energetic performers and songwriters in Jewish music today. Robbi's "spirited Jewish songcrafting" has won awards and accolades - most recently: two songs as finalists in the 2008 Shalshelet competition: and one song published by the URJ on their Ruach 5769 CD. Robbi has toured all over the U.S., England and Israel and misses Jewish summer camp, where she cut her teeth and broke her strings on Jewish contemporary music. All proceeds from her two CDs: Todah LaChem (Thanks, Y'all!) and Aish HaKodesh ("The Holy Fire") go to tzedekah. Check out her story, music and current touring schedule on her robbisherwin. In addition, Robbi is 1/3 of Sababa! - touted as the Jewish "super group" and the "Crosby, Stills and Nash" of Jewish music. Sababa! is Steve Brodsky, Scott Leader & Robbi Sherwin: SababaMusic
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Shirona ,Singer/Songwriter. Listen to her music and visit her HomePage. Shirona's CD "Judaic Love Songs" (awarded a *5 star review* from the Jewish Week) can be purchased from Tara Publications, SoundsWrite Productions, and CDBaby. Read the essay by Hazzan Sam Weiss in "The Journal of Synagogue Music" linked to Shirona's home page.
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Stephanie Shore has recorded two CDs and a few cassettes which include a nice blend of original Hebrew and English songs. You can listen and purchase these recordings or order any of her songbooks and sheet music on her Website. You can email her directly if you have any questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You also might want to check out her Purim Shpiels Website where you can find all of your shpiel needs in one place.
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Rachelle Shubert is Director of Music and Cantorial Soloist at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, a large and vibrant congregation, uniquely Reform in a predominantly Orthodox city. In the Province of Quebec, hers is the only other synagogue featuring a female voice. Rachelle specializes in building community through music. Visit her website where you can listen to music and learn about her upcoming CD.
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Judy Tellerman has been awarded 3 ASCAP Awards. Along with Jewish music she has written a "Brandeis Anthem." A video created by Brandeis University was matched with her song on youtube.com. Her “Abe Lincoln” song was selected for the Permanent Collection of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. Danny Buch, SONY MUSIC Distribution, wrote, "She is a great talent." Arthur Levy, a well-known musicologist, wrote, "You are a masterful melodist and a brilliant lyricist and storyteller -- what more can I possibly say? I am in total awe of your talent." Paul Wieder, Music Critic for Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago JUF News, said, “Judy, you are a Jewish diva,” and wrote, “It is an innovative work that merges the latest in electronic production techniques and dance beats with Sephardic arrangements and Jewish moral themes. Many years in the making, the meticulous work has paid off…. “She's shining a contemporary light on holidays, prayers and Torah figures with her original lyrics. On her latest effort she merges haunting vocals and Jewish mystical themes with club-worthy beats, then burnishes the mix to a high studio polish.” Her commissioned compositions: ”A Mountain Of Shoes,” music for the poem by Moyshe Shulshtein for permanent installation for Holocaust Documentation and Education Center and Museum of South Florida; ”Reach Out,” by Chabad of Upper East Side of NY, NY, for iVolunteer, a dynamic visitation program that sends volunteers to the homes of Holocaust survivors, providing them with companionship and much-needed assistance; ”Deep Graves,” by Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for the May, 2008 Illinois Days of Remembrance Holocaust Observance, Old State Capitol, Springfield, IL; "Legacy," by the International Gathering of Descendants of Survivors of the Shoah, Palmer House, Chicago. You can find Judy's music at cdbaby.com.
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Rica Timman is developing her temple website with some nice musical programming and Torah links/research, prayers and eventually B'nai mitzvah portions. She'd love feedback, suggestions from our Network as she works on this. Her BM kids think it's 'way cool'. Click here: Temple Beth El of Northern Valley
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Aviva Timonier, cantorial soloist, concert soprano, and voice teacher warms the hearts of many through her joyful sharing of word in song. Her recording entitled Shma Koleinu of original melodies by Israeli composer Itai Daniel can be heard and ordered here. Aviva and Mr. Daniel form the core of an ensemble which offers traditional and original Jewish Music in concert called the Paris Kol Arta Ensemble. They most recently offered a delightful program for the historical Copernic Synagogue of Paris.
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Marci Vitkus lives in Sarasota, Florida... paradise. She gladly performs Jewish/Interfaith weddings and is available to travel. She has served as the Cantor at the Jewish Center of Venice since October 2001 and comes from a long line of cantors. Please contact her through her website.
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Lois Welber has recorded her first CD of cantorial music from Hazzan Israel Alter's "The High Holy Day Service" and "The Selichot Service", (c) 1971, Cantors Assembly, Inc., with arranged musical accompaniment. Its release date commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Temple B'nai Israel in Revere, Mass. See review of her CD by George Robinson in The NY Jewish Week and to order the CD click on her Website or go to CDBaby.
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