Katie Kaplan brings an open heart to her calling as a cantor. She creates sacred space through music, inviting connection with the divine spark in every person. Her voice has been described by congregants as “angelic,” “deeply spiritual,” and “a balm for the soul.” She weaves chant, meditation, and traditional melodies, along with new and original compositions to create engaging tefilah and meaningful lifecycle experiences for all. 

Katie Kaplan grew up in Rutland, Vermont where her love of music, Judaism, and nature were fostered at the same time. With the Green Mountains as her home, she was often hiking, skiing, canoeing, swimming, or riding horses. The natural world provides Katie with a deep spiritual connection upon which she has built the foundation of her practice of connecting people through music. Her love of singing led her to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at New York University where the energetic pulse of New York City provided inspiration and endless possibility. She sang numerous roles with regional opera companies in the Northeast and as a soprano soloist before discovering her love of teaching. She went on to earn a Master of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport and embarked on a fifteen year career as a voice teacher, music educator, and choral director. In addition to maintaining a private voice studio, she was the Middle School Music Department Chair at St. Luke’s School, a secular private day school, from 2006-2020. There, she worked with multiple choirs and students to foster their love of singing and music. Her passion for teaching and learning continued to grow along with her love of Judaism, inspiring her to align her career with her gifts in pursuit of cantorial studies. She earned her certification as Hazzan through the Cantorial Intern of the Cantors Assembly (CICA) program. Cantor Kaplan currently serves as the Cantor at Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT.