Howard Cohen has served Temple Beth Hillel in the role of Cantor for 18 years. He trained in cantorial and vocal soloist studies under Cantor Saul Meizels of Heights Temple and Cantor Martin Lubitz of the Community Temple, both Conservative congregations in Cleveland, Ohio. Cantor Howard has been a member of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Oakland Symphony Chorus, and has performed at Davies Hall as a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He also has the distinction of being the only non-music major to perform with the Ohio University Singers.

Cantor Howard has Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and Political Science from Ohio University, a Masters in Counselling from Kent State University, and has completed his course work and oral examinations toward a doctorate in Education at UC Berkeley. Formerly the Principal of Davis Senior High School at Davis, California, he recently became the Superintendent of the Waterford Unified School District in Waterford, CA.

He has also taught coursework in early childhood development at Diablo Valley College. Cantor Howard was recently honored by being selected as a Fulbright Scholar and spent three weeks in Japan studying the Japanese educational system.

Married to Mary, Cantor Howard has one son, Joshua, who became Bar Mitzvah in 1998.

Cantor Howard brings a strong Jewish background, coupled with extensive cantorial studies and the humanity of his life-long experience as an educator, to his role as Cantor of Temple Beth Hillel.