Some of the most talented Jewish cantors and musicians in the country will be bringing their singing voices to the Twin Cities this weekend.
About 150 cantors and musicians are expected at the annual convention of the American Conference of Cantors and the Guild of Temple Musicians in downtown Minneapolis, which runs Sunday to July 4.
"Our role is in music," said Cantor Sarah Lipsett-Allison, one of the organizers of the event. "That's one of our primary responsibilities because a lot of Jewish liturgy is chanted or sung … Members of the ACC have special expertise in the music of the Jewish people and serve synagogues and communities."
The highlight of the convention will be a concert slated for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
Lipsett-Allison will be among the cantors and musicians performing at the concert entitled, "Kol Haaretz: All the Earth Sings." The concert will focus on a sacred work, Perek Shirah, Chapter of Song, in which all of nature extols the glory of God, said Lipsett-Allison. The ancient text attaches a Bible verse to each of its elements of land and sky, of plants and animals.
"It quotes all different aspects of nature," she said. "All these aspects of nature are praising God."
The American Conference of Cantors is the professional organization representing over 475 cantors in North America and around the world; it is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.
Lipsett-Allison, who's served as cantor at Bet Shalom for 7 years, sees great beauty in what she does. And she enjoys sharing her talents with others.
