Cantor Kelly Cooper received her Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Southern California. She began her career as a singer, performing leading roles in musical theater and opera productions in Los Angeles, New York, and on the high seas. She also sang in the LA Opera chorus.

Along the way, Kelly worked at various temples in Los Angeles and New York, teaching as well as singing as a soprano section leader in various High Holy Day choirs. It was during her time as the Tot Shabbat leader at Temple Israel in Long Beach that Kelly was inspired to start her long anticipated journey to the cantorate and enrolled at AJRCA. Kelly worked for the Alpert Jewish Community Center in Long Beach as the song leader for various programs. She was a guest cantorial soloist for Desert Outreach Synagogue in Rancho Mirage. For Three years, Kelly served as the cantorial soloist for Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, leading services, preparing the B’nai Mitzvah students, performing life cycle events and participating in pastoral care duties. In July 2021, Kelly came home and became the full-time cantorial soloist at Temple Israel in Long Beach.

Cantor Kelly Cooper continues to serve the community of Temple Israel in Long Beach, now as an ordained cantor.

Email: klcooper18@icloud.com