Cantor Deborrah Cannizzaro received her Cantorial Certification from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, in June 2009. She has served Congregation Schaarai Zedek since June 2013. Prior to joining CSZ, Cantor Cannizzaro was first Cantorial Soloist, then Cantor, at Issac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2003-2013.
With her warm heart and beautiful voice, Cantor Cannizzaro brings her love of Judaism to our Shabbat services every weekend. She leads our children in music through her direction of the CSZ Youth Choir and by teaching music in our Religious School. Under her direction, Koleinu, our adult choir, helps to lead our worship during the High Holidays, and at other times throughout the year. Her love of teaching is central to her work of overseeing our B’nai Mitzvah program. With her guidance and that of our Rabbis, Cantor Cannizzaro helps to guide our students through their year of B’nai Mitzvah preparation.
Cantor Cannizzaro is quite active in the Jewish Community, both nationally and here in the Tampa Bay area. She has facilitated classes at conventions, and written articles for Jewish websites. She is a member of the Executive Board of the American Conference of Cantors and is ACC Coordinator of the URJ Publication of Ten Minutes of Torah. Here in Tampa, she is an officer on the Board of the Bay Area Cantors Association, an organization that helps to promote a love of Jewish music to our community. She is also a founding member of the Cantorettes, a female singing trio comprised of three cantors from the area.
Prior to entering the Cantorate, Cantor Cannizzaro was a successful concert recitalist and opera singer, performing with, among others, the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Kol Zimrah -The Jewish Community Singers of Chicago, and Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. She lives in South Tampa with her two sons.