Born: Brooklyn, New York (1930)

Died: January 18, 2009 (Plantation, FL)

Voice: Lyric Baritone

Education: Hebrew Union College, School of Sacred Music (1953)

Seymour Schwartzman is one of those outstanding performers who has been able to blend the liturgical music of the synagogue and the worldly music of opera.  The son of a distinguished cantor, Schwartzman’s training began when he was quite young.  He was called to fill his first cantorial position for a congregation in Concord, NH when he was only 16 years old.

Upon completing his training at Hebrew Union College he became actively involved in both the American Conference of Cantors and the Cantor’s Assembly.  He has held pulpits at Temple Beth Emeth in Teaneck, NJ; Congregation Beth Israel in Providence RI; Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park, PA, Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights, NY from 1978-1988 and Temple Kol Ami in Plantation, FL.

During his extensive and successful career he performed more than 30 operatic roles with the New York City Opera Company, the Pittsburgh Symphony and Opera, the San Francisco Spring Opera, the Israel Music Festival, and the Palacio de Belles Artes in Mexico City among others. In 1967 he joined New York City Opera at Lincoln Center and went on to become one of its  leading baritones. He also performed in many musicals, including Milk and Honey with Molly Picon and played Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof.

Cantor Seymour Schwartzman’s rich baritone voice has delighted audiences at services,  live performances and on radio and television.