aboutcantorcolbert

Who We Are
About Cantor Sharon Eve Colbert

Temple Beth Am is pleased to welcome Cantor Sharon Eve Colbert as its new cantor. Cantor Colbert, who was ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles, comes to Buffalo from Houston , where she served in various capacities.

Cantor Colbert brings a spiritual and uplifting soprano voice to Temple Beth Am. She prefers to be a “song leader” (and to get the congregation involved in joyful celebration) rather than acting as a “performer” on the bima.

Cantor Colbert’s broad range of experience includes training seniors for B’Nei Mitzvahs at the Medallion Jewish Retirement Home in Houston and serving as music director for Children’s Theater productions at the Houston JCC. She has also been an events coordinator for the Houston International Festival where, among other activities, she developed educational and arts and crafts programs.

Cantor Colbert’s training of adult B’Nei Mitzvahs was the subject of an article in the Houston Jewish Herald-Voice. Vicki Samuels, who wrote the story and is also the newspaper’s advertising manager spoke very highly of Cantor Colbert, “To me, she’s a very soft person, a compassionate person.”

Cantor Colbert has been the substitute chaplain for Jewish Family Service in Houston and provided pastoral care at the Texas Medical Center. “She was always available, responsible and dependable”, said Hope Lipnick, the Director of Jewish chaplains and hospice at the Texas Medical Center. Lipnick also described Cantor Colbert as “energetic”.

Cantor Colbert has worked with both children’s and adult choirs at Congregation Brith Shalom in Houston. She was also a highly popular student cantor at Temple Sinai in Amherst, New York the past two years.

Both Sharon and her husband, Paul, a former Texas state legislator, are well regarded in Houston.

“We are extremely fortunate to have found a cantor with the qualities Cantor Colbert brings to Temple Beth Am,” said Blaine Schwartz, who chaired the search committee. “With her ability to interact wonderfully with both children and adults she will bring both vitality and spirituality to our synagogue.”

Cantor Colbert is looking forward to adding unique and creative programs to Temple Beth Am. She has already begun to develop a vision of the ideas she wants to implement after joining Temple Beth Am’s Family of Family’s on October 1^st.

Cantor Colbert will assume the position previously held by Cantor Susan Wehle, whose tragic death on flight 3407 is still mourned throughout our community and whose presence will always be felt.

Temple Beth Am of Buffalo, NY
4660 Sheridan Drive | Williamsville, New York 14221
716-633-8877 Temple Office | 716-633-8952 fax | 716-633-8953 Religious School