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