Cantor Kochava Munro
687 S Main St, Unit 4, Cheshire,CT
Summary
I strive to build community through spiritual and joyous music, vibrant teaching, collaborative leadership, and deep listening.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Cantor and Education Director
Congregation B'nai Jacob
Woodbridge, CT
07.2022 - Current
- 2022-2023: Interned twice a month at B'nai Jacob while concluding cantorial school. Led High Holiday and Shabbat services, chanted Torah, and taught music in the Hebrew School
- 2023-present: Lead musical and spiritual Shabbat and holiday services
- Organize the Bima Band, a monthly congregational-led band to enhance Friday night services
- Tutor adult and teen b'nei mitzvah students
- Chant Torah and prepare congregants to chant Torah and Haftarah
- Coordinate synagogue music programs
- Collaborate with local synagogues to bring in guest musicians and organize concerts
- Co-officiate life cycle events with the rabbi and do pastoral care visits
- Teach the 7th grade in Hebrew School and teach Jewish music to all students
- Develop our Hebrew School's curriculum, plan educational field trips, coordinate monthly check-ins with teachers, and offer free Hebrew reading tutoring to students
- Teach adult education courses on chanting Torah and Haftarah, Hebrew reading for beginners, basics of Jewish prayer and the Siddur layout, how to be a gabbai, and learning niggunim
- Run a monthly niggun circle in a local yurt through Hadar's Community Groups program
Part-time Jewish Day School Torah Trope Teacher
Ezra Academy
Woodbridge, CT
07.2024 - Current
- Weekly teach a Torah trope class for 5th grade students
- Organize and provide recordings for student Torah readers for weekly all-school Tefillah
Cantorial Intern
The Boston Synagogue
Boston, MA
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Led weekly Shabbat services and chanted Torah
- Tutored b'nei mitzvah students
- Taught grades 4-7 in the Hebrew School
Part-time Torah Reader
Congregation Or Atid
Wayland, MA
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Chanted Torah monthly and periodically led services
High Holiday Cantorial Soloist
Temple Israel
Portsmouth, NH
09.2019 - 09.2022
- Led High Holiday services over the span of 4 years
- Led periodic musical Shabbat services throughout the year
Cantorial Soloist
Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
Burlington, VT
07.2017 - 07.2019
- Led Shabbat and holiday services
- Chanted Torah and Haftarah
- Prepared b'nei mitzvah students
- Taught music to preschool and religious school students
- Assisted the Rabbi with pastoral care and co-officiated life cycle events
- Taught adult education classes on trope, Hebrew reading, and prayer learning
- Led High Holiday services (2016-2018)
Part-time Torah Reader and B'nei Mitzvah Tutor
Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
Burlington, VT
09.2015 - 05.2017
- Chanted Torah and Haftarah twice a month
- Tutored students for their b'nei mitzvah and co-officiated b'nei mitzvah services
Hillel Jewish Life Intern
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT
09.2014 - 05.2016
- Led Shabbat services for Hillel and assisted with ritual programming
- Collaborated with students to create meaningful spiritual experiences
- Facilitated Lunch and Learns once a month, educational programs which were open to students, faculty, and Jewish community members
Religious School Music Teacher
Beth El Temple
West Hartford, CT
09.2013 - 05.2015
- Taught Shabbat, Jewish holiday, and Israeli music to students in nursery through third grade using guitar
- Taught "Hebrew through Movement" to students in nursery through second grade, a program that teaches students Hebrew using auditory skills and movement
Shabbat and Holiday Service Leader
Marlboro Jewish Center
Marlboro, NJ
01.2007 - 01.2014
- Regularly led all or part of congregational services on Shabbat and holidays
Education
Cantorial Ordination and a Master's of Jewish Education -
Hebrew College
Newton, MA06-2023
Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics with Certification in Secondary Education
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT05-2017
Skills
- Proficient in Guitar
- Excellent Torah, Haftarah, and Megillot chanting skills
- Passionate about learning and teaching niggunim
- Involved with the Hadar Institute and a participant in Joey Weisenberg's inaugural Ba'al Neginah Cohort, a two-year program of deep learning of Jewish spiritual music and leadership
Timeline
Part-time Jewish Day School Torah Trope Teacher
Ezra Academy
07.2024 - Current
Cantor and Education Director
Congregation B'nai Jacob
07.2022 - Current
Part-time Torah Reader
Congregation Or Atid
10.2019 - 06.2022
Cantorial Intern
The Boston Synagogue
10.2019 - 06.2022
High Holiday Cantorial Soloist
Temple Israel
09.2019 - 09.2022
Cantorial Soloist
Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
07.2017 - 07.2019
Part-time Torah Reader and B'nei Mitzvah Tutor
Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
09.2015 - 05.2017
Hillel Jewish Life Intern
University of Hartford
09.2014 - 05.2016
Religious School Music Teacher
Beth El Temple
09.2013 - 05.2015
Shabbat and Holiday Service Leader
Marlboro Jewish Center
01.2007 - 01.2014
Cantorial Ordination and a Master's of Jewish Education -
Hebrew College
Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics with Certification in Secondary Education
University of Hartford