Cantor Kent, a 1988 graduate of the Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music, has served Temple Isaiah since his graduation. Before attending HUC-JIR, Evan received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the City University of New York. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in music education research.

Cantor Kent enjoys sharing the vast palette of Jewish music and culture with our congregation. Through his vision of the Jewish arts, he has attempted to embody Rav Kook’s statement, “Let the old become new and let the new become holy.”

Evan has concertized extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Israel. He has appeared as a soloist in opera and oratorio in such works as Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Messiah, Haydn’s Creation and Stravinsky’s Cantata. He has sung as a tenor soloist with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony on numerous occasions and was proud to appear in the North American premiere of Shostakovich’s “From Yiddish Folk Poetry” with the orchestra. Also, he has appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, the Kol Echad Chorale and Orchestra and the Novakowsky Chorale and the Los Angeles Music Center Opera.

His one-person show “Love Affair: A Jewish Musical Journey” has been seen throughout the United States at synagogues and conventions and workshops.

Evan has been involved in inter-cultural affairs through the production of choral festivals, multi-cultural workshops, and clinics. He is currently on the faculty of Hebrew Union College and is the cantor for the school’s synagogue. Also, Evan is on the editorial board of the CCAR Press.

Evan is an avid runner and bicyclist having competed in ten marathons, more than a dozen half-marathons and numerous cycling fundraisers. He has participated in the California AIDS Ride and the Israeli Ride4Reform- a 5-day mountain biking excursion that traverses Israel.

Cantor Kent is married to Rabbi Donald Goor, his life-partner of more than twenty years and made aliyah in 2013.