Hazzan Ayelet Piatigorsky

Hazzan Ayelet Piatigorsky was born in 1973 in Canada to Uruguayan emigrant parents. She was raised on the coast of British Columbia, and at 17 entered the University of Toronto, completing her Bachelor of Music degree. She was a recipient of a Merit Scholarship to further her education at the Manhattan School of Music where she earned her Master of Music degree. What followed was a 7-year performance career in a wide range of musical styles - from early music to opera. Hazzan Piatigorsky has appeared in leading roles in Puccini’s “Madamma Butterfly”, Mozart’s “le Nozze di Figaro” and “Così fan tutte”, and Rossini’s “la Cenerentola”. She has sung with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Kurt Masur, recorded major motion picture soundtracks and performed with early music groups, among them Early Music New York, (dir. by Frederick Renz).

In 2004 Hazzan Piatigorsky commenced her studies in Israel and continued at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the H.L. Miller Cantorial School, where she received her investiture in May of 2008. She has officiated alongside Rabbi David Lincoln (Park Avenue Synagogue), Rabbi Joseph Potasnik (Congregation Mt. Sinai), and was hazzan at the Glen Rock Jewish Center for two years.

As both a pianist and guitarist, Hazzan Piatigorsky uses instruments to enrich services, and bring joy in song and prayer to the Hebrew school. She is passionate about empowering the congregation to read Torah, and draws all ages to this great mitzvah. Hazzan Piatigorsky lives in Manhattan with her husband and jazz pianist, Misha Piatigorsky, and her two children.