Temple B'nai Abraham Shabbat B'Shir: A Musical Shabbat with Guest Cantor Gabrielle Clissold

Shabbat B'Shir: A Musical Shabbat: Several times a year, our worship is enhanced by special guest musicians, cantors and/or composers, who bring unique musical perspectives to our services. Friday, June 11, 2010 7:30 PM To the Max: Celebrating the Music of Max Helfman, Max Janowski and Max Wohlberg. Special Guest, Cantor Gabrielle Clissold from Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls, NJ Free and open to the public
Cantor Gabrielle Clissold, a 1998 graduate of the School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, joined the staff of Monmouth Reform Temple in July 2002. Cantor Clissold holds a B.A. in European History and a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During her required year of study in Jerusalem for cantorial school, she studied with experts in Israeli art song, Cilla Grossmeyer and Hazzan Naftali Hershtig, of the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem.

Gabrielle began as a cantorial soloist and religious school teacher at Temple Emanu-El in Greensboro, North Carolina, and from that experience as a soloist and a teacher; she decided to apply to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion to become an invested Cantor.

While attending cantorial school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she served for three years as student cantor at Beth-El in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Upon graduation Cantor Clissold served at Temple Judea in Coral Gables, Florida, where she served as Cantor for four years.

Recently, she created a double CD set called Celebrate Shabbat for Monmouth Reform Temple to facilitate congregational singing. Her latest project has been to cultivate two instrumental Shabbat bands. Some of her special interests include a love of Jewish choral music, teaching cantillation and the music of composer Max Helfman.

In addition to her busy life as cantor and mom, she performs as often as possible with Cantor Jessica Epstein. Cantor Clissold is especially honored to sing at Temple B'nai Abraham, as it was Cantor Lee Coopersmith who helped her with research while writing her thesis on Max Helfman.