Sing Unto God 2026
Jewish Teen Songleader Fellowships
Yearlong songleader training for Jewish teens in grades 8–12
The Sing Unto God Jewish Teen Songleader Fellowships help emerging Jewish teen songleaders build the skills, confidence, repertoire, and leadership experience to lead music in synagogues, camps, religious schools, youth groups, and Jewish communities.
Fellows begin with a regional weekend retreat, continue with monthly online learning, and receive mentorship from clergy, educators, and Jewish music leaders throughout the school year.
.jpg)
2026 Regional Cohorts
Each cohort begins with a fall weekend retreat at the sponsoring synagogue.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Congregation Beth Elohim
New York, NY
Retreat Weekend October 16 - 18, 2026
Register
Congregation B'nai B'rith
Santa Barbara, CA
Retreat Weekend October 23-25, 2026
Beth Emet
in partnership with the B’tzalel Arts & Music Festival Chicago
Evanston, IL
Retreat Weekend November 6 - 8, 2026
Temple Rodef Shalom
Falls Church, VA
Retreat Weekend November 6 - 8, 2026
​​​
Fellows learn with a master teacher in collaboration with clergy, musicians, and staff, and practice their skills in real communal settings such as Shabbat services, religious school, or other synagogue programs.
Monthly online sessions follow with their master teacher and clergy, musicians, and educators from across the Jewish world. By the end of the year, each Fellow will have led in multiple settings, built relationships across the Jewish world, expanded their toolkit of resources and repertoire, and sharpened skills they’ll carry for life.
Each Fellow must be sponsored by staff or clergy in their home community. Sing Unto God works with each mentor to help Fellows find meaningful opportunities to practice, receive feedback, and grow as songleaders in their own communities.
Program fee is $300. Scholarships are available.
You can apply for any cohort, no matter where you live, as long as you are able to travel to the in-person retreat on the opening weekend.
Cohorts are intentionally kept small so every Fellow gets real attention, builds genuine relationships with peers, and feels part of a community that actually knows and nurtures their work.
Sing Unto God songleaders learn so much more than how to be great performers. They learn how to collaboratively build and support strong, sustainable communities filled with song.
​
​
At a Glance
For: Jewish teens in grades 8–12
Format: Regional weekend retreat + monthly online learning
Locations: California, New York, Illinois, and Virginia
Fee: $300; scholarships available
Application: Fellows apply with sponsorship from clergy or staff in their home community
Teen Songleader Fellows build the skills, experience, and confidence to:
-
Find their own voice as Jewish leaders
-
Develop comfort in front of a room
-
Teach new and familiar songs
-
Lead singers of different ages and backgrounds
-
Partner with congregational professionals
-
Practice preparation, feedback, reflection, and leadership
Generously underwritten by the Suzanne D. and Stanley A. Racoosin Fund for Jewish Music.
The fellowship taught me so many new skills for songleading that have been extremely helpful in my songleading journey and now it is something that I do regularly with my synagogue.
The retreat especially was such a beneficial experience for me. In addition to being fun, I learned so much from being around talented teens that all shared the same love for music and songleading.
- Aviva