A singer; esp. the leader of a church choir; a precentor.

a person who chants or sings; often a solo voice that begins the service. The Festival of Lessons and Carols begins with the solo of the cantor.

In Roman Catholic or Jewish services, the person who sings or chants solo portions of the liturgy as opposed to the chorus; in the Protestant tradition, a director of music.

Synagogue official responsible for chanting services. In smaller congregations, the cantor is only engaged for the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), while in larger congregations, the cantor presides at services year-round.

Synagogue official who leads the congregation in prayer; the chief singer of the liturgy. See hazzan.

"The officiant who leads the musical service in the synagogue has been known throughout history by twelve different names in three different languages. In English he is called cantor, precentor and reader. In Hebrew he is known as kerobah, sheliah tzibbur, ba'al tefillah and chazzan. In Germany he was called vorbeter, vorsinger, schulsinger, sangmeister, and oberkantor. Subtitles are ba'al Shaharit, ba'al Musaf, chazzan-rishon (chazzan elyon), chazzan-sheni (unterkantor) and mathil." Macy Nulman, Concepts of Jewish Music and Prayer, p. 90.

A singer in church services, which was often a neophyte Indian.

chazzan; the one who leads the singing and chanting at the prayer service

the musical director of a choir

the official of a synagogue who conducts the liturgical part of the service and sings or chants the prayers intended to be performed as solos

a leader of song, and holds a position of great responsibility, because music is a very integral part of a Catholic Mass

a liturgical singer

a singer at Jewish religious services

a song leader in a Reformed, Conservative or Orthodox Jewish Synagogue/Temple Service, or Catholic or Christian Orthodox service

English term for clergy person who leads the congregation in prayer and singing; called chazzan (kha-ZAHN) in Hebrew. hai (KHIGH) “Life,” this word is often found as a decorative charm worn around the neck. Since the two Hebrew letters that make up this word have a numerical value of 18, Jews often give contributions and gifts in multiples of 18. L’chaim! is the traditional Jewish toast, “to life

The person who leads a synagogue service by singing.

A synagogue official who sings or chants liturgical music and leads the congregation in prayer during Jewish services.

Solo singer or singing leader in Jewish and Christian liturgical music.

The official soloist or chief singer of the liturgy in a church or synagogue.

Leader of chanted prayers in a Jewish service; the congregational singer.

Musical director of a German town.

One who leads the singing during the liturgy (i.e., the responsorial psalm).

One who leads singing, especially that of the congregation. One of Luther's associates, Johann Walter, is considered the first Lutheran cantor. J. S. Bach is probably the most renowned cantor. The term is finding increased use among those who are called to oversee the congregation's music-making and to work with the pastors in service planning.