PLATTSBURGH — Maryland-based cantorial soloist Ken Isman is in town for High Holy Days at Temple Beth Israel in Plattsburgh.
“The role of the cantor is basically to work with the rabbi to create a service that serves the spiritual needs of the a congregation. A cantor is musical in nature and background. So using music as a setting for the prayers to create specific moods and to convey the purposes of the prayers to the congregation and with the congregation,” Isman said.
Technically, the role he fills is cantorial soloist.
“That’s slightly different from being a cantor because a cantor is actually an ordained member of the clergy. I have not achieved ordination yet. It’s disrespectful to people who have achieved ordination if I were to call myself a cantor,” he said.
Isman studied for three-and-a-half years at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, NY.
“I have worked with a number of cantors over the years, who have been role models and mentors to me. They teach me what I need to know in order to help lead these High Holy Day services. This will be my fourth year leading High Holy Days somewhere with a congregation,” he said.
Isman located the Plattsburgh opportunity at jewishjobs.com. On the website, he saw Temple Beth Israel’s ad, answered it, and went through a series of Zoom interviews.
“I play a number of musical instruments. The only one I will play on High Holy Days is a guitar, although I will also probably be blowing a shofar, which is a hollowed out ram’s horn that is used sort of like a trumpet. But it doesn’t have valves like a trumpet, but you play it and blow it like a trumpet. On the High Holy Days, I will sing a huge number of prayers. Almost every prayer has a melody,” he said.
Isman received a bachelor of science degree in fire protection engineering on a musical performance scholarship at the University of Maryland at College Park. There, he performed in the university’s band and chorale.
For 30 years, he worked as an engineer in New York City. When he retired, he returned to his alma mater as a professor for a decade in the engineering school.
But, Isman always had a dream of being a cantor. Wherever he lived, he would fill in for a vacationing or unavailable rabbi or cantor.
“People were telling me ‘You’re really good at this. You should do this more often.’”
When he retired from University of Maryland, the plan was to go back to school and try to become cantor.
“While I love leading services and doing the activities of the cantor and helping people, especially, I found that being a full-time student, I’m too old for that. I can’t do that anymore. It’s just not something I was cut out for,” he said.
Isman is happy in his role as a cantorial soloist and filling a real need.
“There are communities that need this musical spirituality and services, and there just aren’t enough cantors around to service them. So, I like this opportunity of being able to move around and get to communities where they need this kind of addition to their services,” he said.