The Cantor now has his own website, featuring information about the Temple's Music Program as well as many entertaining photos. Give it a visit!

Cantor Mark E. Childs earned his B.A. in music from UC San Diego and his Master of Sacred Music degree along with an Investiture as Cantor from Hebrew Union College-School of Sacred Music in New York City. As Cantor of Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara since 1991, Mark is involved in almost every aspect of congregational life. As co-clergy with the Rabbi, Mark shares pulpit responsibilities in both Reform and traditional services and is on call for all pastoral and life-cycle needs of the synagogue family.

Recently credited in the Sonoma County Independent as possessing "youthful energy, a passionate performing style, a sense of humor, and a rich, powerful baritone", Mark is at home as a recitalist in Jewish art song, folk song, and all vocal music of the Jewish people as well as classical and musical theater repertoire. He has appeared as the featured soloist with the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Santa Barbara Symphony and Choral Society (Bloch’s "Sacred Service"), the Santa Barbara Grand Opera ("Die Fledermaus", "Don Giovanni"), and has performed Mendelssohn’s "Elijah" and with full chorus and orchestra. His recording of great Jewish masterworks entitled "Cycles and Symbols" with pianist/composer Bob Remstein is currently available through Sounds Write Music. Cantor Childs’ worship services, educational, and cultural programming have enriched both Jew and non-Jew alike throughout the greater Santa Barbara area where he resides with his wife, Shari, and sons, David and Adam.

Cantor Childs is the staff coordinator of the B’nai Mitzvah program and the Temple Caring Community. As Music Director, he is responsible for all liturgical and non-liturgical music in the synagogue, leading worship services and conducting the Adult, Teen and Youth Choirs, and the Shir Chadash Orchestra. As Music Educator, he is responsible for music education from pre-school through adult education. Cantor Childs teaches the 6th grade Hebrew School class (Torah cantillation), tutors every Bar/Bat Mitzvah student in preparation for their service, produces full scale musicals involving the talented youth and adults of the congregation, wears ridiculous costumes each year at the Purim spiel, and leads weekly services for the Religious School.

You can contact the Cantor via the CBB main telephone number (805-964-7869) or via email (cantor@cbbsb.org).

Photo courtesy of Imagery Photography.