Hazzan Kim Komrad




Hazzan Kim Komrad presently serves Kehilat Shalom Congregation in Gaithersburg, MD.   She is the first female Hazzan  to hold a pulpit in a Conservative synagogue in the history of the Baltimore-Washington area. Hazzan Komrad is among the first generation of women to be invested into the clergy by Judaism's Conservative Movement, in 1994.   She earned her Master of Sacred Music degree and  Diploma of Hazzan  from the five-year program at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Cantors Institute, in New York and Israel.


In 2005 Komrad appeared with Hazzanim Sol Zim and Alberto Mizrahi for the International Cantorial Foundation, at the Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago, and was the first female cantor to participate.  She was  featured in the concerts "The Twelve Leading Cantors of Our Time" and "World Renowned Cantors" for the Cantors Assembly, as well as "The Four Most Exciting Women Cantors of our Decade."  She has performed at the the Cantors Assembly’s annual conventions every year since she was inducted, and was named a "Rising star of the Cantorate.”  Hazzan Komrad has served as President of the Cantors Assembly’s Seaboard Region for over 20 years, and also serves on the national organization’s Editorial Board of the Journal of Synagogue Music, Ethics Committee, CD Committee. She established the Chesed Committee. 


The recipient of many awards for performance and Hazzanut, her rich soprano voice has delighted both congregational and secular audiences alike. The Chicago Tribune called her voice "beautiful and passionate."  The Toledo Blade described her sound as "mystical." The Baltimore Sun, reviewing her CD-ROM about Chanukah, wrote "Thanks to her clear, warm soprano, Chanukah never sounded so good."


Hazzan Komrad has lectured widely to diverse groups concerning women in the cantorate, helping to promote an understanding of  ordained/invested women clergy in a traditional movement of Judaism.  In 2006 she gave a lecture/demonstration of Biblical Chant of the Aleppo Codex at the Smithsonian Institution.


Hazzan Komrad's vocal training was in classical voice and opera at the University of Miami, FL, and she has studied for many years with  Dr. William Riley in New York.  Komrad has appeared widely in the United States, on both the pulpit and stage,  and as a soloist with a variety of ensembles, including the Handel Choir of Baltimore. She has performed throughout Israel under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, and has also performed cantorial music on television in the Baltimore area.  Her CD, “Voice of the Lioness,”  was released in 1999, featuring Hazzanut, Jewish Art Songs, and folk music. Her second album, "Love is All Around" with Hazzan Emanuel Perlman, features love songs from the 50’s-90’s.  Komrad is also featured on the Cantors Assembly/United Synagogue “The Jewish Wedding” CD.


A  certified “End-of-Life Specialist,” Hazzan Komrad is an active volunteer in the hospice community.


Hazzan Komrad earned her B.A. degree in English from the University of Miami, FL, where she studied creative writing under the tutelage of Nobel Laureate, Isaac Bashevis Singer.






Hazzan Kim Komrad




EDUCATION


1989-1994   The Jewish Theological Seminary-- Cantors Institute,  Manhattan, NY

                Master of Sacred Music;  Diploma of Hazzan

May, 1994Investiture as a Cantor in the Conservative Movement

1994        Inducted into the Cantors Assembly,  professional organization of Conservative

                            Hazzanim.


HONORS AND AWARDS FROM The Jewish Theological Seminary


1994Hazzan Abba Yosef Weisgal Award for "excellence in the performance of hazzanut "

        Rose S. Rovine Award for Liturgical Music for "great    potential in the performance  of

                    liturgical music"

1993Cantors Assembly Hazzanut  Study Award

        Hazzan Morris Schorr Memorial Award

1992     Al Goldberg Memorial  Cantorial Scholarship

1991    Hazzan Saul Meisels Award

        Rose S. Rovine Award for Liturgical Music

        Shalom Chorale Scholarship

        Cantor Elias Rosenfeld Scholarship


1987-1988 University of Miami,  School of Music,  Coral Gables, FL

                Classical voice and opera studies


1984-1985  Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

                 English Literature courses towards Masters Degree


1981-1984  University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

        Bachelor of Arts, English Literature

        Creative writing studies with Nobel Laureate, Isaac Bashevis Singer

        Member, Concert Choir

        Performed with the "Singing Hurricanes"


1980-1982  Florida State University,  Tallahassee, FL

        Undergraduate liberal arts courses


Summer, 1980 Academic Studies in Jewish History,  Hod HaSharon, Israel (Alexander Muss

                                High School in Israel)


1978-1979   Interlochen Academy of Fine Arts,   Interlochen, MI

           Studies in voice, drama, and creative writing


Professional Cantorial Experience


  Cantorial Positions:


2002-present       Hazzan, Kehilat Shalom, Gaithersburg, MD


2001-2002Hazzan, Beth Shalom Congregation,  Taylorsville, MD


2000-2001Hazzan, Harford Jewish Center Congregation, Havre-de-Grace, MD

                Hazzan, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Reston, VA


1995 - 2000Hazzan, Beth Israel - Mikro Kodesh Congregation,  Baltimore, MD


1994-1995Hazzan, Nevey Shalom Congregation,  Bowie, MD


1992-1994Cantor, Temple Emanuel, Baltimore, MD


1991-1992Cantor, Temple Beth Shalom,  Mahopac, NY


Summer 1991Cantor, West End Synagogue, Manhattan, NY


1987-1989Cantor, Temple Emanu-El,  Fort Lauderdale, FL


1984-1986Cantor, United States Navy Commodore Levy Chapel,  Norfolk,  VA


   

     Other Cantorial Experience:



1991-1995Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Reston, VA

                Temple Israel,  Norfolk,  VA

                Temple Beth Sholom, Las Vegas, NV

                Rodef Sholom Temple,  Newport News, VA

                Bolton Street Synagogue,  Baltimore, MD


1990High Holiday Cantor, Tree of Life Congregation,  Morgantown, WV


1989High Holiday Cantor, Kibbutz Galil Israel,  Galil, Israel


1986High Holiday Cantor, Temple Israel,  Tulsa, OK


1986-1987      Cantor, Temple Kol Ami,  Plantation, FL

    

Recordings


2002        "Love is All Around"   CD  (with Hazzan Emanuel Perlman)


1999"Voice of the Lioness"  CD


1998“Digital Dreidel”  CD-ROM,  all  vocals  (Chanukah Music) 



Additional Musical Experience


1990-present   Solo concerts throughout the United States

1990-present   Ensemble concerts throughout the United States



2007   Performed role of Viclinda in I Lombardi  by Verdi,

           Amici Opera, Philadelphia, PA

2007    Skirball Center, Los Angeles, CA

2005,    North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Chicago, IL

2002-        Manny and Kim vocal duo, performing a wide

-present             variety of musical genres, with Hazzan Emanuel Perlman

2002           Soloist with National Symphony, Washington, DC

2001           Soloist with the Handel Choir of Baltimore, Soprano, Handel       

                        Oratorio   Israel in Egypt, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

1997   Soloist with The Handel Choir of Baltimore,

              Performed role of Achsah  in the oratorio, Joshua

1993   Soloist with The Handel Choir of Baltimore,

              Performed role of Merab in the oratorio, Saul

1992   Featured vocalist, WJZ TV, Channel 13, Bale  television special :  Holidays in Harmony

1992   Soloist with The Handel Choir of Baltimore, Holiday Concert

1990   Israel Ministry of Tourism

               Performed holiday programs with musical troupe throughout Israel

1988-1989   Soloist with classical musical ensembles throughout FL

1984-1985   “Full Sail Band”  Norfolk, VA, Lead Singer

1984  Yanbal Cosmetic Company with Criterion Studios,  Miami, FL, Composed, arranged

                            and recorded company song

1984  U.A.H.C. Camp Coleman, Cleveland, GA

               Music Counselor, creative worship services

1995-present   Solo performances for community organizations and local  synagogues in the Washington-Baltimore area



Service to the Community and Cantorial Profession


2011-present                        Governing Board, Hillel, Towson University, MD

2011-present                        Cantors Assembly Membership Committee

2011-present                        Cantors Assembly-United Synagogue Recordings Committee

2010-present                       Founder & Co-chair of Cantors Assembly Chesed Committee

2006                       Lecturer, Smithsonian Institution

                                    The Alleppo Codex, The Bible Before the Year

                                    1000 and its Music

2006-present                      Chair Cantors Assembly Social Action Committee


2002-present                Ethics Committee, Cantors Assembly


1999-2002 & 2008-2011     National Executive Board, Cantors Assembly


1999-present Jewish Worship services, Jewish groups at various nursing homes and assisted

                                    living facilities in the Baltimore area, every week

1998-present    President, Cantors Assembly, Seaboard Region

1998-present      Organized numerous cantorial fund raising concerts for the Cantors Assembly,

                                    Seaboard Region, at various Conservative congregations throughout the

                                    Seaboard Region

1995Care for Kids Committee of Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, MD,  fundraising for

                    psychiatric treatment of children


1994-1995BLEWS  (Black/Jewish Forum of Baltimore, Inc).,Community   Leadership Training Program, Baltimore, MD



Professional Organizations


The Cantors Assembly  [Past President, Seaboard Region]

Modern Music Masters, Lifetime Member

Hadassah, Lifetime Member

Jewish Women International

Na'amat


References

Available on Request

Kim Komrad

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