Our Songleading Major at URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy for rising 7th-12th graders combines the passions of singing, playing music, and leadership into one. Spend 12 days jamming and learning with some of the greats of the Jewish music world. This special track was developed in partnership with Sing Unto God, an organization led by Cantor Rosalie Will, which is dedicated to building a pipeline of strong leaders of communal singing.
Campers will gain skills and have unique experiences, such as
- Getting a big crowd to sing along with you
- Improving your guitar stylings and technique
- Tips and tricks for teaching new tunes
- Making music with peers and friends!
Participants will leave with tangible takeaways, skills, and repertoire that will support them in continuing their songleading journey outside of camp – whether it’s at your home congregation, a JCC, or a summer camp job!
Songleaders of any level and experience are welcome. At least a beginner level of guitar skill is recommended.
Past Songleading Mentors
Debra Winter
Songleading Mentor
Debra Winter is a prayer leader, educator and musician who has been serving Jewish communities throughout North America for almost two decades. While spending school years as a classically trained student in music education and vocal performance, it was Deb’s summers spent at camp that truly ignited her passion for this work and the power of Jewish communal music in bringing people together. Through her work with summer camp programs from Warwick, NY to Angelus Oaks, CA; High Holy Day pulpits from Washington, DC to Honolulu, HI; and year-round gatherings in the Reform, Conservative, and Pluralistic Jewish movements; she has gained a wide repertoire and a unique sensitivity to each community’s practices and needs. Deb has been a featured songleader for both USY and BBYO’s International Conventions, Music Director of NFTY Convention, Associate Music Director of the URJ Biennial, and has served on the teaching faculty for NFTY Nashir, LEV: Lift Every Voice, and Hava Nashira songleading conferences. After four years serving the thoughtful and engaged community of Temple Micah in Washington, DC as their Director of Spiritual Arts, Deb is returning to freelance work and has been traveling nationwide with her 5-year-old rescue pup, Frisco.
Cantor Rosalie Will
Songleading Mentor
Cantor Rosalie Will brings more than 25 years of experience training songleaders, leading worship, and creating singing communities. After 16 years with Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD, she now consults congregations on issues of worship, music, and synagogue transition, and she mentors clergy and songleaders in the field. She is founder and Executive Director of Sing Unto God, a non-profit dedicated to elevating the practice and promotion of meaningful worship and of singing together through supporting the pipelining of emerging songleaders for congregations and camps. Rosalie produces events which lead the cutting edge of worship and music thinking, trains communal singing professionals on best principles for engagement as well as singing for justice, and is the author of a narrative trade book with Transcontinental Music Publishing entitled Songleading: A Work of Art. Rosalie also supports the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) on issues of worship and music.
Alan Goodis
Songleading Mentor
Alan Goodis has been a leading voice in contemporary Jewish music for more than a decade. Noted for his dedication to building community through music, Alan travels throughout North America as a performer, worship leader and informal Jewish educator. Alan‘s music is sung at camps and congregations from coast to coast. He lives in Chicago with his wife Codi and their daughters Noa and Maya. To learn more about Alan and to hear his music visit www.alangoodis.com.