- From the Rabbi
- From the Cantor
- Our Community
- Prayer and Celebration
- Learning
-
- The Religious School
- Adult Learning
- Youth Activities
- Interfaith Matters
- Caring
- Join Sinai
- Temple Bulletin
- Photographs and Videos
- Calendar
- Leadership & Committees
- Youth Activities
- Temple Judaica Shop
- Links
- Directions
- Contact Us
- Home
Cantor Martin Levson
Cantor Martin Levson grew up in San Jose, California, and graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor's degree in Music and History. He was invested as Cantor by the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, School of Sacred Music in 1991. Cantor Levson has previously served Temple Israel of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Temple Beth-El of Monroe, New York, and The Congregation Mishkan Israel of Hamden, Connecticut.
Cantor Levson has been a faculty member for the annual Lev Shalom/URJ Jewish Meditation Kallah in Prescott, Arizona since its creation in 2000. His CD of music from these gatherings, Kolot D'mamah -- Music of the Jewish Meditation Kallah, was released in 2004.
Cantor Levson recently performed the world premiere of Yizkor: Music of Memory and Mourning. Composed by bassist David Chevan, this song cycle combines cantorial nusach and jazz and was accompanied by The Afro-Semitic Experience.
Cantor Levson serves on the faculty of the URJ Eisner Camp during the summer. He has served on the URJ Joint Commission on Worship, Music, and Religious Living, and is a former member of the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors. Cantor Levson was the founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist for Musicat Neshama, Tulsa's premiere (and only!) Jewish folk-rock ensemble. Cantor Levson has conducted worship services and presented workshops at national and regional URJ biennials, and he has been the guest Cantor-in-Residence for Reform congregations in Seattle, Austin, Little Rock, San Antonio, and Santa Rosa, California. His wife, Sheri, is an attorney, teacher, singer, bass guitarist, and papercut artist. They have been blessed with two extraordinarily talented and beautiful daughters, Jodie and Elizabeth.
Cantor Martin Levson passionately believes that 21st century American Judaism
must fully engage the body, heart, mind, and soul, and he has taken the words
of Psalm 100:2 as his personal motto:
Ivdu et Hashem B'simcha
Serve the Holy
One with JOY!