After a competitive and robust search process, we are thrilled to announce that we have formed the amazing team that is going to be working with Rabbi David and guiding us musically and spiritually through the High Holidays this year.
Sara Stock Mayo will serve as our musical prayer leader/Shaliach Tzibur. Sara is a spiritual leader, poet and musician. She holds an undergraduate degree in Theatre from Syracuse University and a Masters Degree in Drama Therapy from NYU. She has worked as a clinician, educator, professional musician and chaplain/spiritual director as well as doing community building and interfaith work. Sara served as Cantorial Soloist/Music Director at Temple Sinai for twelve years and has sung in numerous congregations in both Pittsburgh and New York. Currently, she is the Director of Community Outreach for The Rotunda Collaborative, a non-profit organization working to do a full historic renovation at an abandoned synagogue to create a community and performing arts center. Sara also serves as a lifecycle officiant and is one of the prayer leaders at Kesher Pittsburgh, a non-denominational Jewish community. A mom to two young adults, Ziv and Elena, Sara lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Jonathan. Sara is thrilled to be serving Congregation Beth Shalom for these High Holy Days and to share her passion for Jewish liturgical music.
Our very own Judy Marshall will be the accompanist for the High Holiday Choir. Judy received her PhD in music history from Yale University. She presently serves on the Chapters Executive Board of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and plays the keyboard with the Fermi Community Orchestra.
Dr. Lisa Fredenburgh directed the CBS Choir in 2022 and is returning as Choir Director this year. Dr. Fredenburgh has been Director of Choral Activities at Aurora University since 2010 where she conducts choirs and teaches courses in conducting, diction, vocal pedagogy and world music. She is the founding director of Fox Valley Orchestra Chorus and the professional choir, Fox Chamber Singers. She holds a D.M.A. and two M.M. degrees from the University of Arizona.
Dr. Fredenburgh often serves as guest conductor and clinician locally, nationally, and abroad. She has conducted and taught masterclasses in the Dominican Republic and in Bolivia and conducted All-State Choirs in New York, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.