
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Cantor Randall Schloss is proud to join Temple Isaiah. Previously, Cantor Schloss served Temple Israel of New Rochelle, NY and Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, MA. Throughout his cantorate, Cantor Schloss has sought to create an environment of engaging, participatory worship through a rich blend of musical traditions, including his own compositions. He is equally at ease chanting our most sacred and traditional High Holy Day melodies, conducting choirs at a soulful Gospel Shabbat, inspiring children in fun family worship, and leading diverse volunteer and professional musical ensembles in joyous and uplifting worship.
After a varied career in music as a classical singer both on the opera stage and in concert, as a teacher of voice and music theory, and as a choral conductor and music director, Cantor Schloss began his journey into the world of Jewish music in 2000 as a singer and composer. His compositions combine traditional liturgy and modern poetry with musical elements of eastern European nusach and chazzanut, Israeli and Sephardic folk music, classical and twentieth century Reform repertoire and contemporary pop and jazz. He writes, “I hope that through a unique blend of styles, my music will engage the congregation as more than singers or listeners, but completely as a praying community.” In 2015 he was chosen for Forward’s Soundtrack of Our Spirit as one of the “best new voices in Jewish Music.” His settings of Elohai N’tsor and Y’varech’cha (B’nei Mitzvah Blessing) have been published by Transcontinental Music and he has been commissioned for three Choral pieces by the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts.
Cantor Schloss received his Ordination and a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Cornell University and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has served on the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors and currently serves on the ACC Endowment Board of Trustees. In his spare time, he has been known to run the Boston and New York Marathons, to enjoy a round of golf and to hone his amateur barista skills. Most of all, Cantor Schloss enjoys sharing his love of Judaism and music with his wife, soprano Leah Schloss, and their two daughters, Maya and Sonya (also sopranos!).