Ridgewood July 20, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 11 Summer Music Fridays to continue at Temple Israel Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood will continue its second season of Summer Music Fridays on July 22. Performing at this concert will be Cantor Caitlin Bromberg (pictured at left) accompanied by pianist James Besser. Cantor Bromberg will present “Songs of Summer” from various genres. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with a reception and light refreshments, followed by Cantor Bromberg’s performance. Attendees will celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat in the sanctuary at 8:30 p.m. Babysitting is available. Admission is free, but voluntary donations of any amount will be appreciated to support music at Temple Israel. A native of southern California, Cantor Bromberg performed country rock-folk music and musical theater in addition to completing a degree in theater and anthropology at the University of California in San Diego. Relocating to New York after college, she became further immersed in traditional Celtic and British Isles folk music, performing in clubs and venues such as the South Street Seaport Museum and the Irish Arts Center. Her discovery of Judaism then provided new spiritual and musical inspiration. Mesmerized by the interweaving of folk and art music in the cantorial tradition, Cantor Bromberg studied classical voice and opera with Hilda Harris of the Manhattan School of Music, found cantorial mentors and teachers and performed as a cantorial soloist in synagogues in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Arizona and California. Along the way, Judaism revealed new indigenous musical treasures, such as Israeli pop and the Yiddish and Ladino song traditions. Formal cantorial study at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America culminated in a master’s of sacred music anddDiploma of hazzan in 2000. In addition to her love for the music of prayer, Cantor Bromberg has continued to pursue new repertoire in the jazz/blues standard and musical theater genres and loves every chance she gets to sing a wide variety of music. Located at 475 Grove St. in Ridgewood, Temple Israel and JCC is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. During the week, minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. Call (201) 444-9320, E-mail to office@synagogue. org, or visit www.synagogue.org.