Cantorial Soloist Lori Shapiro
Lori Shapiro has been Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth El of Boca Raton (TBE) since 1997 and a member since 1991. Leading services, directing the Shir Joy youth choir and preparing students one-on-one for their b’nai mitzvah service are only some of her many responsibilities. In 2009 through Lori’s efforts, the Temple received a Legacy Heritage Grant which enabled us to create “Shir Ruach,” a teen song leader’s group comprised of fifteen teens who perform and regularly lead services at TBE.
Lori developed TBE’s “Chanukah Under the Stars” program in 2005, which was so successful that it was relocated to Mizner Park Amphitheatre in 2006 featuring Danny Maseng, and again in 2007 featuring a unique collaboration of professional musicians and singers.
With a BFA in music-theatre, Lori enjoyed a successful career in theatre, film, commercials, and continues to do voiceover work. She is a member of Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild. When she discovered the higher spiritual joy of leading services she made the career change from “show business” to “shul business!” Lori has been the guest Cantorial Soloist at Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens and has worked under the musical direction of Bonia Shur and Michael Isaacson. Sharing the TBE bima with Craig Taubman, Dan Nichols, Julie Silver, Beth Schafer and Mah Tovu are only some of the highlights of her cantorial career. Lori has served as staff at URJ Camp Coleman and will be on faculty at URJ Kutz camp summer of 2010. She is a participant in the Palm Beach County Women’s Seder and is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians and Women Cantors Network. In 2008 she brought Joshua Nelson to our bima and had the honor of performing with him to a crowd of almost 1,000 people.
Lori has two children, Lizzie and Adam. “Raising my children in this wonderful congregation is a dream come true. Temple Beth El is our family and the music and spirit my children feel from our congregation fills my life with joy.”