School of Jewish Music

Jewish music enriches the spirit. It is the soul of Jewish prayer and the heart of Jewish life. The School of Jewish Music of Hebrew College is your central address for the study, preservation and performance of Jewish music and offers a rich array of options for engaging the music of the Jewish people.

The School of Jewish Music / Cantorial Ordination Program is an intensive full-time program that combines either a Master of Jewish Education or a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies with pluralistic cantorial ordination. Graduates integrate deep knowledge of text, liturgy and tradition with musical creativity to provide spiritual, educational, musical and pastoral leadership in congregational and Jewish communal settings.

In their final year of the program, students become eligible for membership into the Cantors Assembly.

Cantorial Ordination with Professional Options

The traditional role of cantor — the leader of congregational prayer, who inspires through beautiful musical interpretation of Jewish liturgy — is evolving. More and more congregations are seeking cantors who can fill additional professional roles, from Hebrew school principal to community-life director. Congregants want to feel personally involved in Jewish prayer, and they value cantors whose musical talents encourage participation. Beyond the congregational setting, ordained cantors now serve as full-time educators, chaplains and spiritual leaders in other Jewish communal institutions, and the range of professional opportunities is expanding.

To meet this growing demand, the School of Jewish Music prepares men and women in a pluralistic setting to become cantors who can serve a variety of Jewish communities in diverse roles — as spiritual leaders, Jewish educators, scholars of Jewish liturgy and skilled performers who are committed to fully engaging congregants in Jewish prayer.

Certificate Programs

Committed to the highest quality standards of performance and scholarship, SJM is also dedicated to bridging the world of academia and the community — making Jewish music accessible by creating a more literate laity through certificate programs for congregants, lay leaders, cantorial soloists and gabbaim. The School of Jewish Music offers part-time graduate-level certificate programs in Jewish sacred music, cantillation and Jewish music education for cantorial soloists, Jewish professionals and lay people.

Renowned Faculty

Our faculty team of eminent scholars, cantors and educators includes Cantor Brian Mayer, acting dean and eminent scholar of Ashkenazic nusach; Joshua Jacobson, whose book “Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation” is considered the definitive work in the field; Cantor Jeff Klepper, a leading composer of contemporary synagogue music; and Cantor Charles Osborne, distinguished vocal artist and composer of Jewish works. Also on faculty are Cantor Scott Sokol, Cantor Louise Treitman and vocalist Lynn Torgove.

To learn more, contact Admissions here.

Apply to Hebrew College here.