From ancient chants to contemporary composition, the voice of the Hazzan carries our history, our longing, and our hope.
At AJRCA’s Cantorial School, we prepare spiritual leaders who embody that voice. Our students become stewards of the rich and diverse traditions of Jewish music while cultivating the creativity and spiritual sensitivity required to serve today’s evolving Jewish communities. Through rigorous study of nusach, liturgy, and text, alongside contemporary repertoire and composition, they learn not only what to sing — but why it matters.
Cantorial formation at AJRCA is holistic. Students develop excellence in pastoral care, Jewish education, chaplaincy, and communal leadership. They are trained to guide prayer with authenticity, teach with depth, counsel with compassion, and stand as resilient spiritual leaders in moments of celebration and crisis.
Our low-residency program culminates in ordination as Hazzan and Teacher in Israel and the awarding of a Master’s Degree in Jewish Sacred Music. The program typically requires five years of full-time study and includes supervised fieldwork, Clinical Pastoral Education, a graduate recital, and a master’s thesis.
▶ Listen to Cantorial Recitals & Recordings
Cantorial students at AJRCA train at the intersection of sacred music, Jewish text, and pastoral presence. The curriculum spans five interwoven areas:
1. Nusach and prayer leadership — The foundational language of Jewish prayer, taught through dedicated sequences in weekday, Shabbat, Yamim Nora’im, and Shalosh Regalim nusach
2. Cantorial craft and musicianship — Courses include:
3. Jewish music history and scholarship — The arc of Jewish music is mastered:
4. Liturgy, life-cycle, and choral leadership — Courses include:
5. Rabbinic Texts and Mysticism – Along with the students in the other programs, cantors will study:
The Cantorial School is a five-year, low-residency Master’s program leading to ordination as Hazzan and Teacher in Israel and a Master’s Degree in Jewish Sacred Music
Length: Five years of full-time study; part-time students may complete the program in up to 10 years
Format: Low-residency hybrid model — online coursework supplemented by three in-person residencies in Los Angeles
Hebrew Placement: A written placement test and faculty meeting at the start of the program; tutoring support available throughout
Supervised Fieldwork: Practical training in cantorial leadership at partner congregations and institutions
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): A required CPE unit completed through AJRCA’s ACPE-accredited program, providing direct pastoral care experience in clinical settings
Graduate Recital: A culminating performance demonstrating vocal, interpretive, and liturgical mastery View cantorial recitals and recordings.
Master’s Thesis: Original scholarly work on a topic in cantorial or liturgical study.
Meet the Cantorial Faculty
View More Alumni
Given their unique transdenominational training, Rabbis, Cantors, and Chaplains who graduate from the Academy work in a variety of denominational and transdenominational synagogues, organizations, and institutions nationwide. The following is a representative list:
Conservative
B’nai Shalom, Vista, CA
Congregation B’nai Israel, Tustin, CA
Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, CA
Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge, CA
Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, CA
Congregation Agudas Achim, Austin, TX
Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Temple Beth Sholom, Temecula, CA
Temple Sholom, Greenwich, CT
Congregation Beth Shalom, Corona, CA
Fort Belvoir Congregation, Ft. Belvoir, VA
Temple Ner Tamid, San Francisco, CA
Valley Beth Israel, Sun Valley, CA
Conservative / Reform
Congregation Beth Shalom, Sioux City, IA
Congregation Kol Ami, Salt Lake City, UT
Temple Shalom, Colorado Springs, CO
Humanistic
Adat Chaverim, Encino, CA
Reconstructionist / Renewal
Congregation P’nai Tikvah, Las Vegas, NV
Makom Ohr Shalom, Encino, CA
Wholly Present, A Center for Embodied Spirituality, El Sobrante, CA
Reform
Beth Emet, Evanston, IL
Congregation Beth Israel, West Hartford, CT
Congregation Emeth, Morgan Hill, CA
Jewish Communities of the Desert, Desert Hot Springs, CA
Temple Beth David, Temple City, CA
Temple Beth Israel, Pomona, CA
Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills, CA
Beit Knesset BaMidbar, Las Vegas, NV
Congregation B’nai Tikvah, Walnut Creek, CA
Congregation Ner Tamid, Henderson, NV
Temple Ahavat Shalom, Northridge, CA
Temple Beth El, Aptos, CA
Temple Beth Tikvah, Wayne, NJ
Temple Emanuel, Pueblo, CO
Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale, AZ
Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA
Congregation Ohr Tzafon, Atascadero, CA
Temple Akiba, Culver City, CA
Temple Beth Hillel, Richmond, CA
Temple B’rith Shalom, Prescott, AZ
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA
Trans / Postdenominational / Unaffiliated / Other
Ahavat Torah Congregation, Los Angeles, CA
Congregation Beth Jacob, Redwood City, CA
Congregation Kehillah of Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
Congregation N’vay Shalom, Los Angeles, CA
Jewish Community & Learning Center, Sunland, CA
Lev Chadash, Chino Valley, AZ
Oahu Jewish Ohana, Honolulu, HI
Temple Beth El, Santa Maria, CA
Valley Outreach Synagogue, Calabasas, CA
Beth Israel Congregation, Greeley, CO
Congregation B’nai Horin, Los Angeles, CA
Congregation Shir Chadash, Lakewood, CA
Desert Outreach Synagogue, Rancho Mirage, CA
Jewish Community of Ojai, Ojai, CA
Nachshon Minyan, Encino, CA
Open Temple, Venice, CA
Temple Beth Or, Reno, NV
Zimrat Yah, Santa Barbara, CA
Congregation Bet Shalom, Tuscon, AZ
Congregation B’nai Or, St. Croix, U.S.V.I
Congregation Shir Shalom, Sonoma, CA
Fountainview at Gonda, Los Angeles, CA
Jewish Community of Sedona & Verde Valley, Sedona, AZ
Nefesh, Los Angeles, CA
Or Echad, Agoura Hills, CA
Temple Ner Simcha, Agoura Hills, CA
Beit Kulam, Sherwood Forest, CA
Jewish Community High School of the Bay, San Francisco, CA
HomeShul, Agoura Hills, CA
Tarbut v’Torah, Irvine, CA
Congregation Tikvat Jacob, Manhattan Beach, CA
Jewish Day School of Metro. Seattle, Bellevue, WA
Shalom Hartman Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Temple Menorah, Redondo Beach, CA
Jewish Community Center, San Francisco, CA
Melton School of Adult Learning, Los Angeles, CA
Sinai Akiba Academy, Los Angeles, CA
California Lutheran Univ., Thousand Oaks, CA
Sandra Caplan Beit Din, Culver City, CA
Shutafi m, New Mexico Jewish Connections, Albuquerque, NM
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
California Dept. of Corrections, San Quentin, CA
Covia, Oakland, CA
Jewish Federation & Family Services of O.C., Irvine, CA
L.A. Community Chaplaincy Services, Los Angeles, CA
Meridian Assisted Living, Cheviot Hills, CA
Providence St. John’s Med. Ctr., Santa Monica, CA
Seasons Hospice, Broward County, FL
The Sparta Project, Valencia, CA
Beit T’shuvah, Los Angeles, CA
Cedars Sinai Med. Ctr., Los Angeles, CA
Denver Hospice, Denver, CO
Jewish Healing Center of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Motion Picture & Television Fund, Woodland Hills, CA
Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, Pasadena, CA
Providence St. Joseph Med. Ctr., Burbank, CA
Skirball Hospice, Encino, CA
Valley Outreach Synagogue, Calabasas, CA
Buena Vista Hospice, Thousand Oaks, CA
Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Miami, FL
Jewish Home for the Aging, Los Angeles, CA
Madrona Hospice & Palliative Care, Scottsdale, AZ
P.E.C. Hospice, Garden Grove, CA
Providence Tarzana Med. Ctr., Tarzana, CA
St. Paul’s Towers, Oakland, CA
Walter Reed Nat’l. Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
Academy for Jewish Religion, Los Angeles, CA
University of Arizona, College of Medicine
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Yavapai Community College, Prescott, AZ
L.A. Valley College, Los Angeles, CA
Camp JCA Shalom, Malibu, CA
Shalom Institute, Malibu, CA
Professionals, Scholars and mentors who share the journey with you
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Director of Admissions and Marketing
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