Cantor Rena Shapiro was born into a lyrical family in Newburgh, NY, with a song in her heart and a passion for music in her soul. She studied violin and piano, sang in all the school choirs, and during her many years at Jewish summer camps taught herself folk guitar.

She is a cum laude graduate of Tufts University and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. In her undergraduate years at Tufts University she directed the Jackson Jills, a female a cappella singing group. In 1990 she founded the Shalom Singers, a Jewish community wide choir, which still thrives under her leadership today. Cantor Shapiro is the co-founder of the Sacred Bridge Choir, a local interfaith choir initiative which came about just after the events of 9/11.

She received cantorial ordination from The Academy for Jewish Religion in 2001. While at cantorial school, her composition, "A Psalm for Healing," earned her the prestigious Creative Liturgy Award. Several of her choral arrangements are being considered for publication.

She is also an accomplished violinist, performing with the Bach-Handel Festival Orchestra in the Hudson Valley. Cantor Shapiro maintains an active role in the Dutchess County Interfaith Council. She has been the Cantor at Temple Beth-El in Poughkeepsie, NY since 1990 and is on the faculty of The Academy for Jewish Religion, where she teaches nusach, cantillation, and other courses to

Cantor Shapiro directs several choirs at Temple Beth-El. The Temple Beth-El Youth Choir consists of our young Religious School students from second grade through high school. We sing at Friday evening Shabbat services about once a month. Check the Temple bulletin for dates when we sing and come hear us make a joyful noise!

Cantor Shapiro directs the High Holiday choir at Temple Beth-El. We add our music to the services of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, both in the evening and in the morning.

Cantor Shapiro is the founder and conductor of The Shalom Singers, a community-wide adult Jewish choir. We sing at various concert venues and events in and around the Dutchess County area and beyond. The Sacred Bridge Choir is an interfaith initiative with the choir from Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. Along with Dr. Laura Russell, Cantor Shapiro co-conducts this choir, participating in many interfaith musical events in this area. 

 
Click for Zamir Choral Foundation Concert at Carnegie Hall