Evanston, IL
Cantor Evan Kent moved from Los Angeles to Jerusalem where he currently lives with his husband Rabbi Donald Goor in July 2013. Evan received his ordination as a cantor and his Master’s in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College in New York and served Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles as its cantor for 25 years. Evan also received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the City University of New York.
Dr. Cantor Evan Kent received his doctorate in music education from Boston University in May, 2014. His doctoral research examined how music at Jewish summer camps in North America assists in the development of Jewish identity.
He is currently on the faculty of Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem where he teaches liturgy and sacred music. His publications have appeared in the Journal of Reform Judaism, Sh’ma Magazine, Conservative Judaism, and the Finnish Journal of Music Education. Additionally, Evan was a member of the editorial committee for the new Reform High Holiday prayer book, “Mishkan HaNefesh.”
Dr. Kent is also a musical theatre performer having starred in Jerusalem productions of “Guys and Dolls”, the musical drama “Next to Normal,.” “Avenue Q”, “Singin’ in the Rain”, Sondheim’s “Assassins”and “Cabaret.” Evan also portrayed Yitzhak Rabin in a new musical drama (“November”) that dramatized the last week of Rabin’s life.
His one man show “Shards-Putting the Pieces Together” has been presented in Jerusalem, Prague, New York, and California. In the coming year the show, which chronicles Evan’s aliyah to Israel as well as his grandparents’ immigration to the United States from Eastern Europe, will be seen in Washington, DC, Albany, New York, Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio.
When not singing, teaching and conducting research, Evan is an avid runner having completed a dozen marathons, many half marathons and ultra-marathons.