Job Description: High Holiday Cantorial Soloist, 2019

Overview

Shaarei Shamayim seeks a cantorial soloist to lead our High Holiday services in the fall of 2019. This position entails learning the specific melodies we sing, leading rehearsals for a group of our members who sing in our services, and providing significant musical leadership in the services themselves.

We are a growing, open, inclusive, and pluralistic congregation of over 160 households. Diversity is a core value of ours and we are committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices.

Our services include liturgy and customs from a wide range of Jewish traditions, and our members' practices span a range of types of observance. Our synagogue is affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism and Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal.

We strongly value community participation and leadership in our services. While our liturgy contains some solo pieces, our cantorial soloist must also be able to engage our community in singing.

Our cantorial soloist must be available to lead services on Erev Rosh Hashanah (Sept 29), both mornings of Rosh Hashanah (Sept 30 and Oct 1), Kol Nidrei (Oct 8), Yom Kippur morning (Oct 9), and Neilah (Oct 9). Our members are responsible for chanting Torah and blowing shofar, and our rabbi gives the sermons and kavanot.

About 150-200 people attend our main services, with fewer on the second day of Rosh Hashanah and on Neilah. We use the Reconstructionist machzor along with our own congregational music supplement.

Key Job Requirements

• Ability to work closely with the rabbi and lay leaders in a cooperative, professional manner.
• Experience leading community choirs or group singing.
• Ability to effectively lead at least two rehearsals with our lay leaders in advance of the holidays.
• Strong singing voice.
• Comfort with singing Hebrew liturgy.
• Willingness and ability to learn our community’s music in a timely fashion.
• Ability to teach prayers, songs, and melodies from a range of Jewish heritages.

Compensation

Competitive compensation based on experience. Will cover transportation costs and provide lodging if not local.

To apply
Please send a resume, cover letter, and recording of your singing (audio or video), to Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman - rabbi@shamayim.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For best consideration, please apply as soon as possible.