Alberto Mizrahi

Alberto Mizrahi is an American cantor and tenor known as an interpreter of Jewish liturgical music and for performances that bridge cantorial, classical, and jazz traditions. He served for decades as cantor of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, where he is Hazzan Emeritus, and is a former president of the Cantors Assembly.

Early life and education Mizrahi was born in Greece and immigrated to the United States as a child with his family, including his father, a Holocaust survivor. He initially aspired to a career in opera before turning to cantorial music.

He studied at the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he trained with cantor David Kusevitsky and later became a protégé of Moshe Ganchoff.

Career

Cantorial and concert career Mizrahi served as cantor of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago beginning in 1990.

Mizrahi has also appeared in cantorial concerts alongside leading cantors on the international stage. In 2007, he performed at a Hanukkah reception at the White House hosted by President George W. Bush.

Classical and operatic work Mizrahi has appeared as a tenor soloist in major concert works and festivals, including performances noted in The New York Times.

He has also collaborated with jazz musicians including Howard Levy and Trio Globo, performing programs that reinterpret Jewish liturgical and folk material using jazz techniques.

Mizrahi has described improvisation as a central link between cantorial and jazz traditions and noted shared features such as modal scales, rhythmic freedom, and expressive vocal techniques. The recording received a Grammy Award in 2017. Mizrahi is also featured in the documentary 100 Voices: A Journey Home. He was described in the Chicago Tribune as a “widely admired and remarkably versatile cantor” for his work across liturgical, classical, and jazz contexts.

Professional leadership Mizrahi served as president of the Cantors Assembly, an international organization representing cantors. He has also held roles with the Jewish Theological Seminary and other Jewish musical and educational organizations.