Cantor Adam Frei
Originally
from West Redding, Connecticut, Cantor Adam Frei was
musically inclined from an early age. During his High School
years, Cantor Frei fuelled his musical interest by participating
in school shows, rock bands, and the school orchestra. His
singing talent qualified him to perform in the Western Regionals
Choral Competition, the Allstates, and the U.S. National Chorus,
which toured Europe. Cantor Frei's love of Jewish Hazzanut
also developed during his High School years. When his hometown
synagogue was between Cantors, Cantor Frei led the congregation
in prayer for a full three years. During this three-year period
Cantor Frei became enamored with the prospect of someday entering
the Cantorate.
Cantor Frei received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University School of Music studying voice with Ms. Martha Lipton and Giorgio Tozzi. While in Bloomington, Cantor Frei sang roles with the I.U. Opera Theater, was a soloist with various choral ensembles, and gave four artsong recitals. Cantor Frei went directly from Indiana to New York, where he enrolled in the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Cantor Frei's private coaching sessions in the area of nusach were held with Cantor Lawrence Avery, Cantor Jacob Mendelsson, and Cantor Noach Schall. These lessons prepared Cantor Frei well for entering the job force as a student cantor.
After one year as Hazzan in Elmont, NY, Cantor Frei served three years at the Wantagh Jewish Center in Wantagh, NY. Concurrent singing engagements included Cantorial concerts at the Concord Hotel, the Jewish Museum, Park Avenue Synagogue, Shaare Zedek of Manhattan, and Synagogues in Silversprings, MD; Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville, FL; Syracuse, NY; and Chicago, IL. Additionally, Cantor Frei was a Cantor-in-Residence in Gainesville, FL and Aventura, FL. As a part of the cantorial school requirements, Cantor Frei also participated in a graduate recital at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
In May 1999, Cantor Frei was invested by the Jewish Theological Seminary receiving both a Masters of Sacred Music and a Diploma in Hazzanut. Shortly thereafter, Cantor Frei assumed the pulpit of the Forest Hills Jewish Center where he currently serves as Hazzan.
