Updates from the Cantor Search Committee
Cantor Search Committee Update March 6, 2024
Dear Kol Ami Congregation,
We wanted to provide all of you an update on the status of the congregation's search for a new, full-time cantor. The search is in full swing, and has been for the last three months. The search committee has interviewed several candidates from both the conservative and reform movements who have expressed an interest in Kol Ami's cantor position. The search committee has now narrowed the list of potential candidates to a top tier and will be engaging these candidates in a second round of interviews. It is our hope and goal that through these next interviews we will bring one or two candidates to visit Kol Ami and to provide all of you an opportunity to meet them and help us determine which candidate will best serve all of you and our congregational needs. Dates for the visits will be shared with the congregation once they are confirmed so be on the lookout!
As always, please never hesitate to reach-out to either of us to give us your thoughts and ideas on what you would like to see in our next cantor.
Respectfully,
Melanie Stein Grayson & David Litvack
Co-Chairs, Cantor Search Committee
Cantor Search Committee Update December 18, 2023
Dear Congregation Kol Ami,
We write with an update on the progress and activities of the Cantor Search Committee. First, we have submitted our application to the Cantors Assembly and the American Conference of Cantors. We may begin receiving applications from prospective candidates right away.
We have also focused on forming the Cantor Search Committee. In doing so, we wanted to ensure that the committee included a diverse group of people that would reflect the diversity of our congregation. In particular, we wanted to ensure the following perspectives would be represented on the committee:
– New member
– Long-time member
– Parent of young children
– Parent of children who have had b’nai mitzvah recently
– No children or grown children
– Young professional
– Conservative and reform affiliations
– LGBTQIA+
– Variety of types of interaction with the synagogue
– Gender balance
– Age distribution
We are pleased to share the committee members with you today. They are: Joseph Aguilar, John Cuomo, Shana Godred-Cato, Asher Ireland, Terry Kogan, Aimee Nussbaum, Cheryl Palmer, Carl Smoot, Nancy Strahinic, and Rusty Wilson. Rabbi Spector and Danny Burman will also serve as ex-Officio members of the committee. As co-chairs, we are exceptionally grateful that each of these members has agreed to serve on the committee. We have also formed two subcommittees, the Technical Sub-committee and the HR/Compensation Sub-committee, who will focus on specific areas relating to the search for our new cantor. We are in the process of contacting individuals to serve on these committees.
Lastly, we will be launching a survey to learn more about your views in the next few weeks. We look forward to hearing your perspectives on what you think is most important for Kol Ami to look for in a new cantor.
Thank you for your continued support,
Melanie Stein Grayson and David Litvack
Message from the Cantor Search Committee November 13, 2023
In light of Cantor Sharon Brown-Levy’s decision to pursue other career opportunities at the end of her contract, the Board of Trustees formed the Cantor Search Committee to start the process of finding Congregation Kol Ami’s next cantor. We are both members of the Board of Trustees and we have agreed to serve as co-chairs of the Cantor Search Committee. We are honored to be able to help find the next musical and spiritual leader of our unique community.
We will share more in the coming weeks about how the search will proceed and how you can be involved. As we pull together a committee to kick off the cantor search process, we promise to gather feedback from the congregation and be transparent with you. Please email us at cantorsearch@conkolami.org if you have any questions or comments.
Respectfully,
David Litvack and Melanie Stein Grayson
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
