B’nai Israel Welcomes New Invested Cantor

SOUTHBURY — Cantor Anna Zhar has just joined B’nai Israel of Southbury as the congregation’s first invested cantor. A 2007 graduate of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music, she was the student cantor of Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh.

Cantor Zhar brings to B’nai Israel a compelling personal narrative and tremendous musical background. Her family emigrated from Russia to Israel during her late teens; she received her first degree in choral conducting and music education from the Tchaikovsky Music Academy in Moscow.

In Israel Ms Zhar graduated with honors from the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, and became well-known as a choral conductor. Moving to the United States with her husband Gary, she then earned her master’s degree from San Francisco State University prior to enrolling in cantorial school in New York.

Beyond winning numerous academic and cantorial prizes, she was a valued resource to her classmates at HUC-JIR and congregants in Newburgh. She plays piano, guitar, organ, and keyboard. And she is the mother of two children, aged 9 and 4.