A B O U T

I’m Esther, Texas native, and second-year cantorial student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Before enrolling at the Seminary, I enjoyed a wonderful 16-year career as a film producer, but I found that the pull toward a life rooted in Judaism was too strong to ignore and I decided to pivot toward a career in the cantorate, where I could bring together my love of music, community, teaching, and Jewish learning. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and spent my formative years in Austin, Texas, playing in Americana, Folk, and Rock and Roll bands, and often switching between the fiddle, rhythm guitar, percussion, and harmony vocals. I fully discovered my voice and my story as a member of the Congregation Agudas Achim community in Austin, lay leading Shabbat services, satellite community services, and meditative High Holy Days services.

At the Jewish Theological Seminary, I am strengthening my vocal technique, deepening my understanding of our tradition and liturgy, exploring my own prayer life in ways that are both traditional and creatively expansive, and learning how to create meaningful prayer spaces for others. Outside of school and shul, I am a co-founder of the Hadar Institute-sponsored Austin Jewish Song Circle. I have also been recording an album of weekday Ma’ariv music as well as an album of secular pop songs, while maintaining ongoing collaborations with longtime musical friends and partners. I am a Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) member, a member of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, and a lifetime member of Hadassah.

Music is at the heart of my Jewish expression. Judaism through music is how I connect with people, how I cultivate community, and how I untangle difficult and impossible questions. Studying to become a cantor is a natural extension of that calling–a way to continue learning, connecting, offering comfort, and building community, both locally and globally, in an increasingly fractured world. And I’ve always believed that music is a form of prayer. From the concert hall to the sanctuary, prayer bubbles within all of us through sacred musical connection. With my experiences in lay leadership, creative collaborations, community engagement, and endless late-night song circles, I found that many people want to engage or re-engage with their Judaism but don’t know where to begin, don’t know how, or are very nervous to try. I want to help people find their voices, and their Torah, in all stages of life, musically and otherwise.