Cantor Claire Franco

Cantor Claire Franco

President

Cantor Claire Franco came to the Cantorate with a diversified background. After graduation from the University of South Florida with a degree in business, music and English literature, she worked in sales management before enrolling in Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR). An accomplished pianist, she also worked as a musical director for a local theatre company. Cantor Franco has an extensive theatre background and has performed at Disney World among other venues.

Having spent the first year studying in Jerusalem, she returned to the New York campus to finish her degree. While at HUC-JIR Cantor Franco received the Cantorial Alumni Prize. Cantor Franco received a Masters Degree in Sacred Music and was ordained as Cantor in 1996. During her time at HUC- New York, she served as the Assistant Cantor at Temple Sha’arei Tefilah in Manhattan. An active member of the Hebrew Union College alumni council, she currently serves as the Vice President. Cantor Franco has served on the music on the committee of the New Jersey-West Hudson Valley regional biennial. She has offered workshops at the biennial and college alumni programs as well. Cantor Franco also facilitated the Unions “Taste of Judaism” class.

She served as the Cantor at Temple B’nai Shalom in East Brunswick, NJ for the 7 years. She is currently a member of the clergy team at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington Long Island. She lives there with her husband, Alan and daughters, Lael, Eden and Emory.