Resume

JUSTIN CALLIS

EDUCATION
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, NY
Cantorial Ordination, May 2025

Master of Sacred Music, May 2024
• Cantorial Thesis: The Song of Jonah, a cantata for cantor, choir, and
orchestra

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Bachelor of Science, June 2011
• Majors: Theatre, English
• Certificate in Music Theatre

JEWISH PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Congregation Kol Ami, Cherry Hill, NJ

Senior Cantor, July 2025–present

Officiates during Shabbat services in coordination with the clergy team
Leads High Holy Day and Festival services, solo and in conjunction with clergy and educators
Serves as music director for the congregation and for a volunteer 50-member community choir, Koleinu, which performs regularly at services and for community events
Leads B’nei Mitzvah Program and designed a digital interface for students and families, incorporating visual aids and recordings of Torah, Haftarah, and blessings
Led and organized A Festival of Song, featuring 120 singers and musicians from across New York and New Jersey at Temple Israel of the City of New York

Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York, NY
Cantorial Intern, May 2023–May 2025
• Officiated during Shabbat services in coordination with the clergy team
• Led High Holy Day and Festival services, solo and in conjunction with

clergy and educators
• Tutored b’nei mitzvah students

• Created visual t’filah for lay-led daily mincha services

• Premiered The Song of Jonah as communal programming during Yom

Kippur, presented with choir and orchestra

East End Temple, New York, NY

Cantorial Intern, Soloist, Teacher, May 2021–June 2023
• Officiated during Shabbat services with Rabbi Joshua Stanton
• Led High Holy Day and Festival services, solo and in conjunction with

clergy and educators
• Led religious school t’filah
• Tutored b’nei mitzvah students and taught religious school
• Cantorial Soloist for religious school services and adult services

Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, DC

Cantorial Intern, July 2021–May 2022
• Officiated during Shabbat services individually and in conjunction with

Senior Cantor Susan Adelman Bortnick
• Led High Holy Day services as part of the clergy team
• Led rehearsals with myriad musicians and vocalists throughout the year
• Taught B’nei Mitzvah Prayer Prep in religious school

Congregation Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, SC

Cantorial Intern, June 2021–December 2021
• Officiated during shabbat services
• Taught music in the religious school and led youth services
• Presented a concert of original material inspired by the Book of Genesis

KAM Isaiah Israel, Chicago, IL

Soloist, Accompanist, Teacher, August 2016–August 2020
• Accompanist for services, led choir, cantorial soloist
• Taught students of all ages in a variety of disciplines

Shir Tikvah, Homewood, IL

Music Director, June 2018–October 2019
• Led choir rehearsals with volunteer choir
• Served as soloist, accompanist, and choir director for High Holy Days

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Jewish Choral Conducting Institute, New York, NY 2026–7 Lazar Fellow

Certificate in Jewish Choral Conducting, expected July 2027
Monthly online conducting sessions plus biannual in-person intensives over two years

Songleader Boot Camp, Saint Louis, MO February 2026

American Conference of Cantors Annual Convention, Cleveland, OH July 2026

RECORDINGS

Kolot HaDorot: Celebrating Fifty Years of Women in the Cantorate,

2025

Transcontinental Music Publications, Conductor and Featured Soloist

Kol B’Seder for Choir, 2025

Transcontinental Music Publications, Conductor and Featured Soloist

Shabbos Dreams, 2023

Beth Reinstein, Featured Soloist

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
The Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, IL
Instructor, January 2019-May 2021
• Courses: Keyboarding Skills for Voice Majors I and II,

Songwriting & Composition, Vocal Technique and Repertoire IV,

A Capella Choir

Community Christian Church, Lincolnshire, IL
Music Director, January 2011–August 2020
• Led devotional music during services and rehearsals
• Planned and implemented musical direction of congregation

Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago, IL
Teaching Artist/Composer, July 2012–August 2020
• Taught opera to elementary school students across Chicago Public Schools

• Crafted original compositions and story material for original operas

• With COT for Teens, served as music director and composer

Storycatchers Theatre, Chicago, IL
Music Director/Composer, April 2013–January 2017
• Taught music to high school students and incarcerated youth
• Created original compositions, vocal arrangements, and orchestrations

• Encouraged musical ensemble and appropriate vocal technique

PRIZES

Compositional Awards

The Song of Jonah: Winner of the 2025 Dr. Jack Gottlieb Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music Student Composer Prize

• Shabbat: Winner of the 2025 Ben Steinberg Young Composer’s Award

• Uvirchoteha—Blessings Before Sh’ma: Runner up for the 2024 Ben

Steinberg Young Composer’s Award

Be Wise Fellowship in Jewish Entrepreneurship, 2024-2025

• Project: Jewish Liturgical Orchestra, presented as part of A Festival of Song

Academic Achievements

• Reuben Peretz Abelson Prize for Dedication to Yiddish Song

• Temple Israel of Boston Cantorial Prize

• Lee Gura Memorial Prize for Excellence in Choral Skills

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST