Volunteer of the Month: Cantor Scott Simon

Many of you may have met Scott Simon at the convention in Chicago. I know that I did and I was impressed then with his calm, caring demeanor. Scott has been at his congregation in the Chicago area for 11 years.

Why do you volunteer for the ACC? How do you make time for it in your busy schedule?

I think organizational life is vital to us as a group and individuals. Participation in the ACC allows us many channels of access to important information, current trends and the top people in our field. Very few people outside of our colleagues in the ACC understand our lives and needs and will work to support us. Also, so many of our colleagues are compassionate, caring people… it's wonderful to know them and I’m grateful to have friends to share with that don’t need explanations. 

I volunteer to do the things that fit into my schedule and at which I have some amount of expertise. There is so much important work to be done and there is room for everyone to help. If each of us does something for the ACC then the work gets done without putting to much pressure on any one individual. I try to remember that each new ACC board or group that comes together is made up of volunteers who want the same things that I want and will be a new batch of people with different strengths and needs. Therefore, I try to make myself available to each new group regionally and nationally.  There is always someone or some task that might be a ‘fit’ for what I can offer.

What projects are you currently involved in with the ACC? What past involvements have given you exceptional memories?

Currently, I’ve been involved in ‘Singing for S’mores’ which is a URJ camper-ship fundraising initiative. I helped organize procuring big items for the local raffle. Nationally, I was instrumental in getting a large audio manufacturer to lend us pianos and other tech equipment and training for Memphis and at all future conventions. This will save the ACC a ton of cash over the years and keep us all more tech savvy, so that feels good. The most memorable thing I did in the past was funding and hosting a big kick off ‘meet and greet’ two years ago to help the cantors of our area get to know each other and to create and align our goals. I’m excited that my efforts paid off. We’ve all built on that first meeting, our collegial relationships have developed in a beautiful way, and now we have an exceptionally vital, thriving region of friends.

How do you try to inspire Jewish young people?

I start working with them at an early age. I teach music and prayer in the Religious School from the time they are in kindergarten. I role model for them as I lead them with the guitar, and through our RUACH! Youth choir, which has about 25 voices and is directed by my talented wife, Gail. Having fun and learning with the students in this way and through their b’nei mitzvah, I learn which of them play guitar and are musically talented. I’ve helped at least 15 students buy guitars over the last ten years, which is cool. I’ve taught a song writing tochnit each year at the Greater Chicago area Youth Choir Retreat; which is a camp retreat that I started with a few other cantors in the area about 13 years ago. I try to stay hooked into the students at all ages and as they age into High School I train the students with an interest to work as song-leaders in school and on the retreats, in the adult choir and as soloists for our big ‘Shir Chai’ Rock Shabbat style family services. I currently have five working song leaders that I’ve mentored. Each of them has a weekly opportunity to lead K-2 on Sundays and 3rd-6th graders on weekday afternoons. It’s fun for them and with five kids to count on, I can cover my bases and get the work done. They’re all good, loyal kids and I have warm relationships with them. Through the inspiration of this program, a number of past graduates have gone on to careers in music, Jewish education, and Jewish musicians/cantorial soloists working in synagogues or in Jewish Community centers, so that feels good too.

What do you do completely unrelated to your cantorate?

I like to build and fix things – remodeling my house and finishing the basement and putting in a recording studio; plumbing, electronics, that kind of thing.