ABOUT HERJC

Cantor

CANTOR STACY JOY SOKOL
516-599-2634
cantorsokol@herjc.org

A native New Yorker, Hazzan Stacy Joy Sokol grew up in Westchester, and then attended Puchase College where she studied Opera and Jewish Studies. Hazzan Sokol was invested as a Hazzan from the H.L. Miller Cantorial School of The Jewish Theological Serminary in May, 2002. While attending the five year graduate program, in which the first year of study was in Israel, Hazzan Sokol was a recipient of many prizes including The H.L. Miller Fellowship, as one who will make a significant contribution in the musical life of the Jewish communities she will serve. She graduated from JTS with a Diploma of Hazzan, and a Master of Sacred Music. She is a member of The Cantor's Assembly of America and Conference of American Cantor's. In May, 2005 she received her commission from the Cantor's Assembly as a dedicated Cantor.

Hazzan Sokol has served in two congregations: Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove, NY and Temple Beth El in Swampscott, MA. She is delighted to return to her home state of New York and to serve as Hazzan of Hewlett-East Rockway Jewish Centre/ Congregation Etz Chaim. She looks forward to sharing her great love of Judaism in its texts, music, traditions and people.

Hazzan Sokol is a "mezzo-soprano" who carries on a musical family tradition. Her grandfather Hazzan Yechiel Sokol Z"L served as Hazzan in Wyezkow, Poland and Panama City, Panama. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. Maury Deutsch is a world renowned arranger and composer who taught Charlie Parker among many other greats. Hazzan Sokol continues to perform throughout the United States, singing a wide style of music that includes traditional Jewish, Opera, Broadway and Pop. She was the first female to lead services in Krakow, Poland at The Judaica Centre, while studying in Poland on a Steven Spielberg Fellowship in 1996. She has sung with many orchestras including the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, and is currently working on her first CD.

Hazzan Sokol has two children, David Zachary and Zamira Renee.