Resume/Bio

Resume/Bio

Joseph D. Gole
310 920-9081 – cell
39314 Camino Las Hoyes
Indio, CA 92203
joseph@josephgole.com

Resume

Joseph Gole received his Doctor of Music, honoris causa, in from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. His professional career credits have included numerous performances and appearances with various organizations including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pacific Palisades Orchestra, The American Youth Symphony, Guild Opera Company of Los Angeles, the Laguna Opera, and Euterpe Opera Company. In addition, he has performed at the Holland Festival and the Edinburgh Festival of Scotland. Concert appearances have included numerous cities throughout the United States, Canada and Israel. As a cantor, he served for over twenty-three years as the Senior Cantor of Sinai Temple, the oldest and one of the most prestigious synagogues in Los Angeles. He also served Congregation Mogen David in West Los Angeles for eighteen years.   In addition, he has been a guest cantor for the High Holidays at Temple Israel in Great Neck New York and for the Persian community in Los Angeles.

A native of Southern California, Joseph Gole attended the University of Judaism, Hebrew Union College, and earned his degree in opera and voice at the University of Southern California. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended Adat Ari El, Los Angeles Hebrew High and Camp Ramah. He studied privately with Hazzan Allan Michelson, Hazzan Samuel Kelemer, and Jewish repertoire coach Erwin Jospe. Also, he has worked privately in the past under the tutelage of the world famous opera singer Giorio Tozzi, Seth Riggs, and classical repertoire coaches James Low and Armen Guzelimian. He is currently studying with Richard Slade.

He served as the International President of the Cantors Assembly – the largest professional organization of cantors in the world with 550 members and was a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. A past chairman of the West Coast Region of the Cantors Assembly, Cantor Gole served as a co chairman of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Cantors Assembly that was held in New York City and appeared in performances at Carnegie Hall and Central Park He has also co-chaired conventions and missions in Los Angeles, Poland and Israel. Cantor Gole is a featured cantor in the recently released documentary film – 100 Voices – a Journey Home, which played throughout the United States and Canada. In the film, he is one of the featured soloists that sang at the Warsaw Opera House, Krakow Philharmonic Hall and the Jewish Music Festival of Krakow.

A recipient of the regional United Synagogue Award for outstanding creative programming, Cantor Gole has served on the faculty at the American Jewish University, Academy of Jewish Religion and the Baal Tephilah Institute, and has encouraged numerous young hazzanim who now occupy leading cantorial positions. He has personally trained hundreds of children in the skill of conducting the cantorial portion of the Shabbat morning service and has prepared hundreds of children for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. He regularly participates in life cycle events of his congregants. Cantor Gole started the Sinai Temple Chevra Kadisha, which is the first Chevra Kadisha at a Conservative Congregation in Southern California.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

My passion comes from inspiring people in a meaningful and profound way through my music, faith and belief in Judaism. My personal fulfillment is derived from serving the Jewish Community as a cantor, teacher, pastor, role model and leader. As a deeply respected clergy person by my colleagues, my congregation and the community, I have extensive experience and skills in leading services, life cycle events, teaching, inspiring, motivating, leadership, management, team building and executive administration.  As a confident and enthusiastic leader who possesses experience in supervising and working with people, I am an engaging listener and problem solver. I am a motivational-teacher of young people and adults – inspiring congregational participation and involvement. With an executive coaching background – as president of the organization – I restructured the governance of the Cantors Assembly – the largest organization of cantors in the world.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
September 1, 2000 to 2012:

Senior Cantor of Sinai Temple, West Los Angeles. Duties include officiating at services and participating in life cycle events, which include funerals, weddings, taharah, and baby namings. Created a synagogue Chevra Kadisha, which is a group of people that perform the ritual and recite the liturgy for a deceased person prior to a Jewish funeral service. Responsible for selecting all of the music for the congregation. Coordinate a staff, which includes another cantor, organist, choral singers and musicians. As the administrator and coordinator of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah program, set the curriculum and am responsible for the preparation of approximately 100 students per year that celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvah with their families. Oversee the administrative and support staff, and meet with all students and families. Teach in our religious school. Visit congregants in the hospital and on occasion at home. Meet with families and members to assist with problem solving. Created a Bar and Bat Mitzvah website for the program. (Www.cybermitzvah.org)

2004-present

On the faculty of the Academy of Jewish Religion teaching a life cycle class to cantorial students.

1980 – present

Produced and directed numerous concerts, programs, and conventions for my synagogue and for the Cantors Assembly and have led services and have sung in concerts in Europe, Canada, Israel and throughout the United States.

2010

Appeared in movie One Hundred Voices – A Journey Home, which documents the Cantors Assembly Mission to Poland and Israel. The film is being considered for an Academy Award in the category of Documentary Films.

2000, 2003, 2004, 2007

Organized and led lay people on Missions to Israel.

1982 – 2000

Cantor of Congregation Mogen David, West Los Angeles. Responsibilities were to lead services on Friday night, Shabbat morning, holidays and festivals.

1980 – 1984

Instructor for the Adult Education program at the University of Judaism – nusach and prayer, teaching lay people how to lead various parts of the service and how to read torah and haftarah.

1972 – 1982

Senior Cantor of Sinai Temple, West Los Angeles. Similar duties as current position.

Prior 8 years to 1972

Cantor of Temple Emanu-El in Burbank. A part time cantorial position, which allowed me to attend USC and support myself through college. Conducted services and rehearsed and led a lay choir of adults.

MEANINGFUL PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

September 2010

Featured artist in the film 100 Voices – A Journey Home, which appeared in over 500 AMC Theatres throughout the United States. The movie documents the Cantors Assembly Mission to Poland and Israel.

National Public Radio interview with Ina Jaffee discussing the great Cantor Yossele Rosenblatt several days before Rosh Hashanah, which was aired nationally on NPR.

December 2008

Receipt of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, December 2008 presented by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. Gave the acceptance speech on behalf of the other cantors receiving their doctorates.

2005 – Present

Started a Chevra Kadisha at my synagogue, which is an integral part of our outreach and life cycle ceremonies for our members and families that have suffered a loss.

2000 and 2004

The celebration of my children’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem, Israel.

2010

Honored by Sinai Temple for 20 years of devoted service at the annual Dinner Dance, which was the most successful the synagogue has ever had in attendance and net revenue.

1998

Co-chaired the Cantors Assembly 50th Anniversary Convention in New York and produced and performed in a cantorial concert at Carnegie Hall.

2008

Led services at a Mesorti Synagogue in Jerusalem on Shabbat morning for the son of one of my previous Bat Mitzvah students.

2009

Sang at the Warsaw Opera House, the Synagogue in Krakow and at the Krakow Jewish Festival.Visited the shtetl where my mother was born and Majdanek Concentration camp, where I believe my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins perished during the Holocaust.