Music at Temple Solel
Music is at the heart of our worship experience, helping us connect with tradition, community, and one another. As we look ahead to the coming year, we are grateful to have two talented musicians who will help lead our congregation in prayer, song, and celebration while we continue our search for a permanent cantor or cantorial soloist.
Each brings unique gifts, experience, and a deep love of Jewish music. Together, they will enrich our Shabbat and holiday services, support our b’nai mitzvah families, and help create meaningful worship experiences for congregants of all ages.
Whether through uplifting melodies, familiar prayers, or new musical expressions, their spirit will ensure that Temple Solel remains a place where music inspires, comforts, and brings our community together.
Jordanna Matlock
My name is Jordanna Matlock, and some of you may already know me from around the congregation. This year, I have the honor of stepping onto the bimah to help lead our Friday evening services on the weekends we aren’t celebrating bar or bat mitzvahs. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.
Music is my life’s work. I hold a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from Arizona State University, and by day I am the Assistant Director of Education Programming for The Phoenix Symphony where I write and teach education programs for students of all ages across Arizona. I also teach bassoon at the collegiate level and perform regularly throughout the Valley.
As a Jew, I’ve been especially drawn to world music traditions and the ways different cultures use music to build community, tell stories, and express spirituality. That passion led me to learn to play the autoharp, a folk instrument whose shimmering chordal sounds immediately captured my heart. While leading services is a new role for me, being a musical leader is not. I step onto the bimah with gratitude and genuine joy. I hope my voice and the warm, rich sound of my autoharp will help create Shabbat experiences that are welcoming, musical, and meaningful. I look forward to singing, praying, and celebrating with you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jordanna Matlock
Susan Colin
I’m delighted and excited to be with you all this year for worship and celebrations. There’s a spiritual magic to sharing the bimah with b’nai mitzvah families. I believe there’s wisdom in the process. It’s always moving to share this significant moment as someone takes their place in the Jewish community, with confidence that comes from study, practice and community support.
As a cantorial soloist and composer, I’ve recorded 6 CDs of familiar and original Jewish music. My music has been published and is used by congregations throughout the country. I’m always happy to talk about music, and if you have any favorite melodies, please let me know. There are, truly, thousands of settings of L’cha Dodi and Adon Olam, so we have plenty to choose from! And remember that if a song is new to you, you can always sing along in our default language: Yai diddy dai…
I look forward to working with Rabbi Keller again because as I know from experience, his knowledge, humor and gracious nature will elevate our worship.”When we sing, we pray twice” and when we sing together, indeed, “Am Yisrael Chai” the Jewish people live!
B’shalom,
Susan Colin
