~ About ~

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Justin Zvi Pellis is a cantor, pianist, choir conductor, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist.

Justin currently serves as the cantor of Or Hadash, a Conservative Synagogue in Fairfield, CT, where he introduced Musical Musaf, an accompanied Musaf service on both High Holy Days and Shabbat, featuring instruments such as classical guitar, violin, viola, flute, and cello. As a jazz musician, Justin has experience leading jazz-style instrumentalists in Jewish folk and jazz repertoire in services and concerts.
Justin currently conducts the New Haven Chapter of HaZamir, the Largest International Jewish Teen Choir.

He was recently the conducting intern at Nashir! The Rottenberg Chorale (see: Gallery).

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Justin’s musical journey began in Westchester, NY, where he was shaped by the harmony and soul of his home synagogue, Bet Am Shalom.  When Justin was a teenager, he learned that Matisyahu had grown up at the very same synagogue, which led to him falling in love with the 2011 album Spark Seeker.

 

A transformative gap year in Israel at an Israeli Mechina deepened Justin’s connection to his Jewish heritage and to Jewish music; During his weekends off, he frequently took the bus up to Jerusalem to visit Avrum Burstein's Klezmer Basement, where he experienced the mystique of Klezmer, and the unique musical community that formed around that special club on Yafo Street. ​ 

 

He earned his B.A. in Music at Goucher College, where he further honed his craft under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Chappell. Justin played piano in the jazz ensemble, played in classical piano masterclasses, and was also the captain of the Goucher Comedy Improv Troupe. Justin also began voice lessons at this time and acted in musical theater and straight-theater productions.​​

 

In his last semester at Goucher College, Justin enrolled in night classes at Yeshiva University's Belz School of Music to learn hazzanut. It was at this time that he realized he wanted to make a career out of being a a musician and a spiritual leader, and applied to the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he was ordained and earned his Master's in Sacred Music (M.S.M.)

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In 2021, Justin connected with his current voice teacher, Maestro Darrell Lauer,

with whom he studied for all four years of cantorial school and continues to study.

Mr. Lauer also happens to be Matisyahu's former voice teacher.

 

In his final years of school, Justin studied composition with Dr. Gerald Cohen,

who mentored him through his first compositions:

Teki’ot Suite for Shofar, Trumpet, and Hazzan (2022), and

 Song of Songs Wedding Suite for Hazzan, Chorus, Piano and Violin (2025). ​

 

Justin is most passionate about creating moments where spirituality and music converge.

​He is grateful to his cantorial, musical, and rabbinical mentors for helping to continually

refine his vision of musical artistry and community leadership.