To begin I must say that I am incredibly blessed with an amazing husband and two wonderful and brilliant children who make me proud every day!
My Jewish journey began when I converted to Judaism 33 years ago and continues until this day. My second year as a Jew my husband, son, and I joined Temple Emanu-El, of Oak Park MI, and have called it home ever since. I’ve had the pleasure of serving as Cantorial Soloist at Temple Emanu-El for the past 10 years and being a long-time member.
It has also been my pleasure to serve as the Communication and Publicity VP and now Member on the Board for the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM) these past 7 years, this is an organization that supports Jewish musicians around the world. I also serve on The Michigan Board of Cantors (MBC) as their secretary. This is a group of Michigan Conservative and Reform Cantors and Soloists that come together monthly to talk about what is happing in each of our communities and worldwide regarding the Cantorate. Our focus is expanding Jewish Music in Michigan and giving back to our community as a group. I earned a BA in Music and Judaic Studies Minor from Oakland University where I also established a student organization for the music school and created a grant in honor of Jazz Professor and Professional Danny Jordan z”l, as well as helped to promote and establish the Judaic Studies Minor Program as Student Liaison. I earned a Masters in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan, of which I was awarded the Simeon Brinberg Outstanding Masters Student Award. I earned a Certificate in Hebrew Studies from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and I am currently studying at AJR in the Kol Bo program, I am the current VP of the Student Association and was awarded a Fellowship to study with the Shalom Hartman Institute. I have studied under some amazing Cantors and Rabbis, Cantor Norman Rose z”l, Cantor Sol Zim, Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor, Rabbi Joseph Klein, Rabbi Arturo Kalfus, Rabbi Mathew Zerwekh, Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman and more. I have also studied under opera professionals Candice DeLattre and Nadine Washington, jazz professionals Danny Jordan z”l, Tad Weed z”l, Sean Dobbins, Dr. Miles Brown, Carl Cafagnia, and Scott Gwinell, and Conductors Michael Mitchell and Bradley Bloom.
I have performed in shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Secret Garden”, “Cheaper by the Dozen” and have performed both solo and in concert at Bakers Key Board Lounge, Cliff Bells, and The Berman Center.
I have had an incredible journey thus far and I am looking forward to a new part of that journey to begin.