Gail P. Hirschenfang was ordained as cantor in 1981 from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. In 1988, she received her Master of Sacred Music degree, also from HUC-JIR. She is among the first group of women cantors to enter into synagogue life in America. Additionally, Cantor Hirschenfang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the State University of New York. Cantor Hirschenfang currently serves as Director of Member Support for the American Conference of Cantors, the professional organization for the Reform cantorate. She has also served as a member of its executive board and as cantorial chair of the Commission on Synagogue Music for the Union of Reform Judaism.

Cantor Hirschenfang is a soprano and has performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada. She was the first Reform cantor to give a concert at the newly established Jewish Cultural Center in Moscow in 1989. Her other performances include solo work with the Detroit Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Birmingham Bloomfield Orchestra and the Michigan Opera Theatre. She was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1985. She also performed as a soloist and in chamber ensembles in the premier season of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival in Birmingham, Michigan. Cantor Hirschenfang served as cantor and musical director of Congregation Shir Chadash of the Hudson Valley where her husband, Daniel Polish serves as rabbi. They are the proud parents of Leah Yonina.