EMILY HOWARD MEYER
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The steps of a person are made steady by Adonai, when Adonai delights in the path that one takes. Though a person stumbles, they will not fall headlong, for Adonai holds them by the hand. ~ Psalm 37:23-24
I was born in Coos Bay, Oregon, where I began taking piano lessons at the age of six. I performed throughout high school and, upon completion, entered the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, where I received a double Bachelor’ s degree in Piano Performance and Music Theory / Composition. I moved to Baltimore, MD to attend the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where I earned a Masters of Music in Composition. I subsequently moved to New York City, where I took a job as an administrative assistant at the main office of Hadassah. There, I began my Jewish journey. With the help of my boss, Ina Strauss, I started to explore what Judaism was and tried to find my place in it.
After a year, I moved to Denver and worked for several years in database design, until I found a teaching job at Eastern Wyoming College, in Torrington, WY. As the sole full-time music teacher, I taught all music courses, lessons, choral and band groups, and also headed the musical theater program. After three years, I moved to Canandaigua, NY to work as a music theory and choral instructor at Finger Lakes Community College. While there, I formally converted, under the guidance of Rabbi Amy Sapowith, and began to work as a cantorial soloist. Soon after, I met my husband through a mutual friend, we married, and moved to Omaha, NE. While in Omaha, I worked as a vocal coach and accompanist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and taught piano and composition at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. I also worked as a religious music teacher in both the Conservative and Reform synagogues. The Reform synagogue sent me to Hava Nashira where in addition to honing my craft, I met Debbie Friedman z” l, whom I spoke with several times over the years. Before her death, she suggested that I study to be a cantor.
Over the next ten years, I worked as a cantorial soloist and educator at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD, and was an active member of the Women Cantors’ Network. I also purchased oySongs. com during this time. I initially entered AJR with the goal of becoming a cantor, but soon found a love for Talmud and rabbinics, which led me to the rabbinical program. Through the last four and half years, I have found many amazing teachers, mentors, and friends at AJR, and am so happy to be sharing this experience with my incredibly supportive family: my husband Gabe, my twins, Ella and Owen, my mother and stepfather Ginger Howard and Bob Bancroft, and my in-laws Marshall and Judy Meyer. Without the love and support of my family and friends, I would never be able to accomplish half of what I dream. Thank you.
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