Our Cantor

Cantor Carrie Faith Barry

Cantor Carrie Faith Barry began her tenure as our sh'liach tzibbur - our representative to God in prayer - on August 1, 2006. She brings to her cantorate qualities and talents that help us reach new levels of spirituality and excellence: a warmth of heart and disposition; creativity and innovation; lovely yet strong vocal skills with the ability to sing in a variety of styles; inspiring worship and song leadership; music teaching skills for our young people and Judaic teaching skills for all levels of our community including our b'nai mitzvah students; ability to lead worship and programs on the guitar; and outstanding competence as co-clergy for all levels of life cycle events.

Cantor Barry is a native south Floridian who grew up attending Temple Beth Orr, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, in Coral Springs, FL. She has been involved in music nearly all of her life having participated in many choirs, choral ensembles, musical theater performances, and soloist work in congregations.

Cantor Barry had the distinction of being a National Merit Scholar and attended Vassar College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Religion with Honors. While at college she was the soloist and music teacher at the Vassar Temple in Poughkeepsie, NY. Upon graduation, Cantor Barry entered our Reform Movement's seminary, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion School of Sacred Music, in New York City . She spent her first year of study at the College-Institute campus in Jerusalem where, as part of her training, she tutored Ethiopian students at an absorption center. During her five years of cantorial training, she spent a portion of her time serving congregations in New Jersey and Illinois as a student cantor. In addition, Cantor Barry had the opportunity to tutor b'nai mitzvah students and serve as a Parent and Child Education (PACE) instructor at two congregations in New York City .

At Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion she received the Rabbi Jill Kreitman Prize in Homiletics, the Kreitman Prize in History, the Cantor George Weinflash Sh'leich Tzibbur Award, The Cantorial Alumni Association Prize and the Cantor Norman Summers Award for Excellence in Studies. Upon graduation she received her Master of Sacred Music (MSM) degree and Investiture as Cantor. Prior to joining our congregation Cantor Barry served as the spiritual leader and co-cantor of Congregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, NJ.

Cantor Barry's email address is cantor@templebethtorah.net