Cantor Anna West Ott has great love for choral directing and her grandchildren! As Cantor Emerita at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick NJ, she oversaw an ambitious music program including three choirs and two bands, in addition to community projects such as Kol Halayla at Rutgers, the Anshe Segulah Men’s Chorus, and Interfaith Thanksgiving Services. She founded and directed for 14 years what is now HaZamir Central Jersey, and had the great privilege of conducting HaZamir in great venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. She has conducted her choirs and taught workshops at the North American Jewish Choral Festival, as well as commissioning new music and working with many Music Scholars in Residence.

Matt Gonzalez is a conductor and music educator with experience across choral, instrumental, and theatrical performance. He began conducting at an early age and has led choirs and instrumental ensembles in educational and performance settings. Matt was a member of the inaugural class of the Zamir Choral Foundation’s Jewish Choral Conducting Institute, a two-year development program for Jewish choral conductors under the direction of Matthew Lazar. Additionally, he conducts the MetroWest chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir.

Since studying conducting, classical voice, and vocal pedagogy at Rowan University, Matt has gone on to become an accomplished bass-baritone soloist and choral singer. He also maintains an active career as a professional percussionist and drum set artist with experience in concert performance and musical theater.