Cantor Melanie Cooperman

Cantor Cooperman is an inspiring spiritual leader, musician, and teacher. She seeks to bring the Divine into our everyday lives through learning, music, and spiritual practice. She is passionate about cultivating relationships and building community. She believes that our Jewish texts and traditions can enrich and deepen the meaning of our lives.

 

At CSR, Cantor Cooperman oversees the b’mitzvah program, co-creates engaging worship services, provides pastoral care, and serves as the staff liaison to our Tzedek Council and Women of CSR. She also helped envision many of CSR’s creative programming options including co-teaching the Jewish Film Class, coordinating the semi-annual Mitzvah Day program and collaborating with lay leaders in the newly-established Culture Club.

 

She is proud to serve as the American Conference of Cantors Membership Testing East Coast Chair helping set the standard for ACC cantors in the Reform movement. Cantor is also is a member of Kol Hazzanim, a community of Westchester Cantors, and a member of the Interfaith Clergy of Rye. In 2018-19, she participated in the Clergy Leadership Program with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.  For two summers, Cantor Cooperman was also a scholar-in-residence at Congregation Shir Shalom in Woodstock, Vermont.  

 

Cantor Cooperman received a Master in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota. She was ordained as a Cantor from Hebrew Union College, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in 2011 and received her Master of Sacred Music from HUC the year prior. Her student pulpits included Temple Sinai of Long Island, the Jewish Center of the Hamptons and Rodeph Sholom in New York City. Her thesis The Melody Lingers On: The Jewish influence on the Music of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Harold Arlen focused on the interplay between Jewish music and secular music; a relationship which continues to be a focus in her cantorate. Rodeph Sholom presented her thesis in the summer of 2011. 

 

Cantor Cooperman and her husband, Allan Staples, live in Mamaroneck and she enjoys traveling, movies, plays, concerts, walking and reading. She loves getting to know people’s stories and loves to hear from members of CSR. Please feel free to reach out and schedule a coffee or lunch date. She can be reached at extension 245.