Biography

Cantor Lauren Bandman is founder, owner and instructor at The Studio: Private Music Lessons, L.L.C. in the historic German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, where she maintains a thriving studio teaching voice, piano, guitar, audition preparation (specializing in musical theatre), and Judaica - including cantillation. She delights in teaching her students who range from age 7 to 70s!

Cantor Bandman is proud to serve as cantor of Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, CT for High Holy Days and select Shabbatot throughout the year.

Cantor Bandman received her Bachelor of Music Education with high honors, summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University, where she studied a classical approach to singing through aria and art song, specializing in choral conducting. She earned her Master of Sacred Music and Cantorial Ordination from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.

Cantor Bandman began her chaplaincy training at Mount Sinai Hospital in NY, NY through a program of Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. She completed a year-long chaplaincy residency with OhioHealth in Columbus, OH. Through these programs, Cantor Bandman earned four units of Clinical Pastoral Education and the designation of Spiritual Care Provider through the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Cantor Lauren Bandman is co-creator and performer of Love's Journey, a one-woman show of musical theatre and American standards that tells of a woman's journey through life and love. In addition to several synagogue musical compilations, including A Sanctuary in Time: Erev Shabbat at Congregation Beth Am which she produced and directed, Cantor Bandman can also be heard on A Collection of Soulful Jewish Melodies: Nigun Anthology -- Volume I (Transcontinental Music Publications), as well as a cameo appearance on Shifreles Portret: A Yiddish Art Song Project.

Cantor Lauren Bandman is a member of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) where she has served as an Executive Board member as well as Chair of the ACC Ethics Committee. She was a member of the national Commission on Worship, Music and Religious Living. Cantor Bandman co-chaired the ACC-GTM Convention in Israel and has been named ACC Volunteer of the Month. 

Cantor Bandman was honored to be selected as one of twenty cantors to travel to Rome, Italy to perform the first-ever concert of Jewish music at the Vatican - the highlight of a conference on Jewish-Catholic relations. In addition to participating in the cantorial choir for this landmark event, Cantor Bandman conducted one piece and was a soloist on another piece on the program. She also introduced the concert - in Italian!

Cantor Lauren Bandman lives in Columbus, Ohio where she pursues her passions as cantor, chaplain, private music and Judaica instructor, audition coach and performer.