Cantor Phil Baron is Valley Beth Shalom’s chazzan sheini. He is the son of a violinist and the grandson of a Vilna rabbi. This combination of influences should have led him immediately into the world of Jewish music. Instead, he first took a successful detour into children’s entertainment, where he had over 300 original songs recorded -- nearly 200 of these by the Walt Disney Company. In addition, he has been the voice of such loveable characters as “Piglet” and “Teddy Ruxpin.”
About 12 years ago, his strong Jewish roots started to pull him in a new direction. He co-created two television series for Jewish children, “Bubbe’s Boarding House,” and the multiple award-winning series “Alef…Bet…Blast-off!” Then, beginning in 1995 he became a frequent cantorial soloist at Valley Beth Shalom, eventually helping to create the very successful ShabbosFest monthly service. As a vocalist he has also been featured with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony.
Encouraged by our own Dr. Noreen Green as well as Rabbi Feinstein, Cantor Baron entered the Academy For Jewish Religion in 2001 where he studied with esteemed hazzanim Nathan Lam, Don Gurney, Perryne Anker, Benyamin Glickman and Joseph Gole. He received his cantorial ordination as well as a Masters degree in Jewish Sacred Music in May 2005.
Cantor Phil Baron
