Cantor Beth Cohen
Cantor Beth Cohen is a well-known vocalist, violinist, string musician and music educator in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. She specializes in ethnic music - particularly the traditional music of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Since 1983, Ms. Beth has been running her own music studio in Albuquerque, where she teaches voice, guitar, violin/fiddle, viola and piano to students of all ages. In 1991, Beth earned her Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from the University of New Mexico. Since 1995, she has been the Cantor and music director at Congregation Nahalat Shalom where she teaches and directs the Community Klezmer Band, Alavados Holy-days ensemble, and teaches tefillah in the Cheder. Cantor Beth also organizes and co-produces the annual renowned Klezmer music and dance festival KlezmerQuerque. She has also taught choir, band and orchestra in several Albuquerque and Santa Fe public and private schools and directs the choir at Congregation B’nai Israel. Beth has co-founded, performed in, recorded with and toured with many New Mexico-based ensembles, including Svirka-women's Balkan chorus, Ellis Island Tradition, Earth Angels-vocal trio, The Rebbe’s Orkestra-klezmer and Judaic band, Goddess of Arno-Balkan band, Village Idioms and Gamelan Encantada. Cantor Beth has been honored to perform at Casa de Sefarad’s Festivals twice in the past with her newest trio called Neshama del Bosque (Soul of the Forest) which specializes in Sephardic music from around the world.