Education

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion New York, NY
Masters of Sacred Music, May 2024
Cantorial Ordination, degree anticipated May 2025

Chicago College of Performing Arts - Roosevelt University Chicago, IL
B.M. in Jazz & Contemporary Studies, cum laude, May 2013

Jewish Work Experience

Central Synagogue, New York, NY
Cantorial Intern
August 2022- present

  • Leads Worship and Ritual

    • Friday Night Kabbalat Shabbat

    • Mishkan Saturday Morning Service

      • Coordinates weekly lay torah chanters

      • Recorded a weekly podcast called “Uplifting the Text” to highlight musical selections of this service

      • Lead Cantorila presence for this Service

    • 20s/30s Group

    • Shabbat B’yachad (Tot Shabbat)

    • Interfaith Thanksgiving services

    • Yom Hashoa services

    • Yom HaTzedek services

    • Yizkor Services

    • High Holiday family services

    • High Holiday community services

  • Chants Torah

  • Assists in teaching and conducting the Shirim Team (community singing group)

  • Works one on one with students to learn their Torah and haftarah portions and all the blessings and prayers they will lead at their B’nai Mitzvah.

  • Provides music for community events

  • Song leads for Hebrew School

Temple Anshe Amunim, Pittsfield, MA
High Holiday Cantorial Intern
May-October 2022 & May-September 2023

  • Acted as Cantor for the High Holiday season

  • Programmed music for High Holiday services

Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, DC
Student Cantor
July 2021- April 2022
• Led Worship

  • Kabbalat Shabbat

  • 2239 Young Adult Group

  • B’nai Mitzvah

  • Mimosa Minyan

  • High Holiday Services

• Created curriculum and instructed the 5th/6th grade B’nai Mitzvah prep class

• Programed and performed concerts for the community

• Led Torah Study

  • Gave Sermons

Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn, NY
B’nai Mitzvah Tutor
August 2021- April 2022

• Worked one on one with students to learn their Torah and haftarah portions and all the blessings and prayers they will lead at their B’nai Mitzvah.

Beth Emet, the Free Synagogue, Evanston, Il
Cantorial Soloist - Songleader - Hebrew Teacher
July 2012-July 2021

• Led Saturday morning worship services

• Led Sunday morning T’fillah with grades PK-6th

• Taught 6th grade Hebrew twice a week

• Created and Led the Beth Emet Jr Choir

• Subbed for the Cantor

• Programmed and led shmoozica (a parent-child music class for shabbat)

• Assists the Cantor for extra musical programming

Temple Sholom, Chicago, Il
Cantorial Soloist - Pre School Music Teacher
September 2015- May 2020

  • Led the 20s/30s service monthly

  • Taught secular and religious music to ages 18 months-six year old weekly

  • Subbed for the Cantor

JCC Apachi Day Camp, Chicago, IL
Song-leader
Summers 2017-2018

·       Song-led with campers ages 4-8

·       Led a shabbat sing-a-long every Friday

Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago, IL
Song-leader and Cantorial Soloist
2012-2015

·       Co-led young family services

·       Taught religious music weekly to ages 4-11

Akiba-Schechter Preschool, Chicago, IL
Pre-School Music Teacher
2013-2015

·       Taught religious and secular music weekly to ages 18 months-six years old

SEcular work EXPERIENCE

Freelance Musician, Chicago, Il
Performer - Teacher - Composer
2012-2020

  • performed jazz and contemporary music at events

  • arranged and composed music

  • Subbed as a Cantorial Soloist for B’nai Mitzvahs or services in the Chicago area

  • Taught contemporary voice, guitar, piano lessons to ages 5-adult

Elle Casazza Band, Chicago, Il
Lead Singer - Songwriter - Music Director - Band Manager
2012-2020

  • wrote and arranged original music for a five piece band fusing the genres of pop, rock, disco and soul

  • sang and fronted the band

  • booked and organized tours and local shows

  • promoted and produced studio albums

Skills

20 years of private voice training - Guitar - Piano - Ukulele - Songwriting - Choral and Instrumental Musical Arranging - Basic Audio Engineering - Basic Video Editing - Basic Conducting

Publications & Recordings

Shabbos Dreams (album) - November 1, 2023

“Zamru Ladonai” - Resounding Voices (online book) - Women’s Sacred Music Project - October, 2023

“Oseh Shalom” - Shabbat Anthology X (book) - Transcontinental Music - March, 2023

“Ki Karov Eilecha” - Attitude of Gratiude (album) - Jay Rapoport - January 21, 2022

Awards & Prizes

  • Palm Beach Culture Prize for Liturgical Cultural Foundation – 2023-24

  • Cantor Edward R. Fogel – St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music Prize for Vocal Development 2023-24 & 2021-22

  • Rabbi Sarah Messinger Prize 2022-23

  • Sarah Lantz Human Relations Prize 2022-23

  • Herman E. Snyder Alumni Prize 2020-2021