~ 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.  Around his Bar Mitzvah, he learned that Matisyahu, who made his favorite album, Spark Seeker, had grown up at the very same synagogue.

 

Justin earned his B.A. in Music at Goucher College, where he played piano in the jazz ensemble
and in classical piano masterclasses under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Chappell.

Justin also found time to be serve as captain of the Comedy Improv Troupe. 

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In his last semester at Goucher, Justin enrolled in night classes at the Belz School of Music (Yeshiva)

to learn hazzanut. It was at this time that he realized he wanted to make a career out of being

a musician and a spiritual leader, and applied to the H. L. Miller Cantorial School (JTS),

where he was ordained and earned his Master's in Sacred Music. 

At Belz, Justin connected with Maestro Darrell Lauer, who he asked to be his voice mentor.

 

In his final years of cantorial school, Justin studied composition with Dr. Cantor 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 grateful to his cantorial, rabbinical, and spiritual mentors

for helping to continually refine his vision of community leadership.